The hottest BMI Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Health & Wellness Topics

The Utter Ridiculousness of the 5-10% Weight Loss Recommendation

Weight and Healthcare • 1318 implied HN points • 04 Oct 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Weight Loss BMI Health recommendations Research
  1. The recommendation for 5-10% weight loss to improve health is widespread but may not have significant impact on individuals' health conditions.
  2. The weight loss recommendation is based on flawed BMI categories, often leading to unrealistic goals for individuals, especially those with obesity.
  3. The focus on weight loss overlooks the importance of evidence-based, individualized medical interventions for all patients, regardless of size.

The Problem With “Classes” of “Obesity"

Weight and Healthcare • 678 implied HN points • 10 May 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Obesity BMI Healthcare Weight Stigma
  1. The concept of 'obesity' based on BMI can be problematic and does not account for individual health variations.
  2. Classifications of obesity, especially in healthcare, can lead to biased treatment recommendations favoring weight loss over evidence-based, weight-neutral care.
  3. The arbitrary nature of BMI 'classes' for obesity can result in significant differences in treatment recommendations with just small changes in weight, perpetuating weight stigma and inequality in healthcare.

Study Questions Supposed Link Between Being Higher-Weight and Cognitive Ability

Weight and Healthcare • 639 implied HN points • 26 Aug 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Weight Stigma Cognitive ability BMI Research
  1. The concept of 'cognitive ability' has been historically used to promote discrimination against various groups.
  2. BMI and definitions of 'obesity' are shaky concepts without clear health implications.
  3. Research questioning the link between higher weight and cognitive ability often still operates under the assumption that weight is a preventable health issue.

Large study shows high BMI not associated with serious top-surgery complications

Weight and Healthcare • 479 implied HN points • 15 Nov 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Healthcare Studies Weight Surgery BMI
  1. A large study indicated that a high BMI is not linked to serious complications in top surgery.
  2. The study suggested reevaluation of BMI cutoffs for patients undergoing chest masculinization surgery.
  3. Surgeons and patients should engage in shared decision-making conversations to discuss potential risks with higher BMI, without holding healthcare hostage for weight loss.

What is the optimal body type?

sebjenseb • 255 implied HN points • 14 Jan 24
🏥 Health & Wellness BMI Mortality
  1. Optimal body type varies based on factors like eating habits and exercise.
  2. High quality medical research for determining optimal body type is challenging to come by.
  3. Muscularity and fitness are generally healthy, but excess adiposity and muscularity may be unhealthy.
Get a weekly roundup of the best Substack posts, by hacker news affinity:

Options to Deal With BMI-Based Healthcare Denials - Part 2

Weight and Healthcare • 639 implied HN points • 18 Feb 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Healthcare BMI Weight Stigma Fat Activism
  1. Understanding the reasons behind BMI-based healthcare denials is crucial to decide how to proceed.
  2. Options for dealing with BMI-based healthcare denials include finding different circumstances, fighting the denial, or trying to reach the BMI requirement.
  3. Fighting BMI-based healthcare denials may involve challenging the decision, seeking support, and exploring counterarguments to address the reasons given for denial.

Myth of the Day: BMI is the Bible

Are You Okay? • 0 implied HN points • 31 Oct 22
🏥 Health & Wellness Diet Exercise Weight Loss BMI
  1. BMI is not the sole indicator of health - it's like the SAT, just one data point. Context around weight, like genetics, metabolism, and lifestyle, is crucial.
  2. Health is more than just a number on the scale - healthy habits, genetic factors, and overall lifestyle play key roles in well-being.
  3. Focus on realistic goal-setting, healthy habits, and individual health goals, rather than solely relying on BMI for health and weight management.