Why BMI Is Misleading—Especially for Women Over 30
“If I lost 3 pounds of muscle, I’d be healthier?”
Because the BMI chart says so?
That’s the kind of nonsense women are still being told.
I ran the numbers today.
If I lost muscle to fit into a “healthy” BMI range, my body fat percentage would actually go up—even though the scale would go down.
Make it make sense.
Where Did BMI Even Come From?
BMI was created nearly 200 years ago, in the 1830s, by a Belgian mathematician named Adolphe Quetelet. He wasn’t a doctor. He wasn’t studying health. He was trying to define the “ideal man” for population statistics.
And yes—we mean man: adult, white, European males.
Not women.
Not children.
Not athletes.
Not aging bodies with unique needs.
Decades later, in the 1970s, researchers started using BMI as a tool to look at health trends across large groups of people. It was meant to be a population tool—not something to assess an individual person’s health or worth.
So Why Is It Still Being Used?
Honestly? Because it’s easy.
It’s built into every medical chart.
It takes 30 seconds.
And—it’s cheap.
Even though it’s outdated and misleading, BMI is still part of most doctors’ routines because it’s fast and familiar. But that doesn’t make it accurate—or helpful.
What’s worse: there are better tools out there, like the InBody 270 machine we use here at Northglenn Health and Fitness. They measure what your body is actually made of—but they’re rarely used in traditional settings because they cost more and require interpretation beyond a single number.
What’s the Real Problem with BMI?
BMI only tells you your weight in relation to your height.
That’s it.
It doesn’t tell you:
- How much muscle you have
- How much fat you have
- Where that fat is stored
- How you feel, move, or function
So you could be strong, active, and healthy—and still get labeled “overweight” by a chart that doesn’t know anything about you.
In fact, if I, Coach Jennifer, wanted to lower my BMI today, I could lose 3lbs or more of muscle and be labeled healthy.
And if I did that? My body fat percentage would rise, my strength would drop, and my overall health would suffer.
Every year my bones would become weaker and my health would decline.
But the BMI chart would say, “Well done.”
A Better Way to Look at Your Health
If you like having numbers to track (or your doctor says you need to), that’s okay. But let’s track the right ones.
At Northglenn Health and Fitness, we use the InBody 270—a quick, non-invasive scan that gives you a much more accurate picture of what’s going on inside your body.
Here’s what it measures:
- Total body weight
- Lean body mass (muscle)
- Body fat mass
- Body fat percentage
- Water balance
- Segmental breakdown (muscle in each limb and your trunk)
📍 Curious how it works?
👉 Click here to learn more + schedule a scan
And if you’re not a “numbers” person, don’t worry. You can still make progress—without a single chart.
Look for signs like:
- More energy
- Better sleep
- Less stress
- Stronger workouts
- Fewer cravings
- Clothes fitting more comfortably
These are signs of a healthy, resilient body—even if the scale doesn’t move.
Final Thoughts
Health isn’t about shrinking yourself to fit a chart created 200 years ago by a man who never studied women’s health.
It’s about strength. Confidence. Energy. And choices that support your life today and your life in 20 years.
If you’re tired of chasing a number that doesn’t reflect your progress—or your potential—I’m here to help.
📞 Book your free 10-minute call with me, Coach Jennifer, to learn how YOU can start.
Or schedule an InBody scan and we’ll break down the numbers together—judgment-free.
👉 Learn more + book yours here