New BMI Standards Proposed for Male Athletes to Better Identify Overweight and Obesity

Recent research unveiled at the European Congress on Obesity in Malaga, Spain, reveals that traditional body mass index (BMI) thresholds inaccurately classify many male athletes as overweight or obese. The study, conducted by researchers from Italy, introduces revised BMI cut-off points tailored specifically for this demographic.

BMI, a common metric for assessing weight status, is calculated by dividing an individual's weight in kilograms by the square of their height in meters. The World Health Organization (WHO) categorizes a BMI of 25 kg/m² or higher as overweight and 30 kg/m² or above as obese for adults. However, this system has faced scrutiny regarding its effectiveness in accurately assessing athletes, who often have higher muscle mass.

According to Professor Marwan El Ghoch from the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, BMI does not differentiate between muscle and fat, leading to potential misclassification of athletic individuals. Traditional BMI criteria may label a well-built athlete with low body fat as overweight, which undermines the accuracy of health assessments in sports contexts.

The study investigated the prevalence of overweight and obesity among 622 male athletes, aged approximately 26, engaged in various competitive sports. Participants were assessed using both BMI and body fat percentage (BF%) measurements through dual X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), a highly reliable method for determining body composition.

Findings revealed that over 25% of athletes were categorized as overweight or obese according to the conventional BMI standards, with only 72.5% classified as normal weight. In contrast, when using body fat percentage as a benchmark, less than 4% fell into the overweight or obese categories, demonstrating a significant discrepancy in classifications.

El Ghoch emphasized the flaws in the current BMI methodology, noting that the majority of athletes were inaccurately labeled as overweight or obese. To address this, the research team applied statistical modeling to establish new BMI cut-offs, recommending 28.2 kg/m² for overweight and 33.7 kg/m² for obesity among young male athletes.

Co-author Professor Chiara Milanese highlighted the practicality of the new BMI standards, stating that while DXA scans provide precise body composition data, they are not readily available in all sports settings. Conversely, height and weight measurements needed for BMI calculations are easily accessible, making the revised cut-offs a valuable tool for sports organizations.

The study advocates for the adoption of these new BMI classifications within sports institutions while acknowledging the need for further research to establish similar standards for female athletes and different sports categories not included in this analysis. This initiative aims to enhance the accuracy of weight status assessments among athletes, promoting better health outcomes in the sporting community.