BMI, or body mass index, is commonly used to determine if you’re at a healthy weight or perhaps overweight, and to predict disease. However, new studies indicate that BMI alone is not an accurate indicator. Emerging research suggests that a comprehensive body composition analysis is more accurate in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of chronic diseases. 

Understanding Body Composition

In the past, BMI was considered a reliable measure of health, but it only takes into account factors such as body weight and height. It does not accurately measure the amount of fat mass a person has, which can be a dangerous type of tissue linked to multiple diseases. 

In fact, those with a higher BMI can sometimes have better overall survival rates compared to individuals with a BMI that falls within the “normal” range. 

As one study explains, this has led to obesity paradoxes. After assessing data for 330,353 patients, researchers found a higher BMI to be linked to a lower risk of mortality due to stroke, particularly when compared to the lowest BMI ranges. 

When it comes to assessing body composition, newer scans, like the DEXA scan, measure multiple factors, including:

• Fat/adipose mass
• Muscle / lean mass
• Bone mass

By taking all these factors into consideration, rather than just focusing on body weight and height, you can gain a much better understanding of your health. 

The Link Between Adipose Tissue and Chronic Disease

Excess fat in your body can be dangerous. Fat can accumulate in various parts of your body, but adipose tissue is particularly harmful. Researchers have found that having too much adipose tissue can have a direct impact on your quality of life. 

A study for the AHA Journal explored the impact excess adipose tissue has on heart health. The distribution of adipose tissue can affect the chest, accumulating around the heart, which has a negative effect on the cardiovascular system. When fat accumulates in this area, it’s often referred to as epicardial adipose tissue. There are several other studies that also link this kind of fat tissue to cardiovascular disease. 

A review paper in MDPI Biology explains a complex link between heart disease and epicardial adipose tissue; this fat tissue is linked to three specific cardiovascular diseases, including coronary artery disease, atrial fibrillation, and heart failure. 

These are all chronic cardiovascular conditions that can have a significant impact on a person’s life. With heart diseases being the leading killer in terms of chronic illnesses, these are significant findings to help people understand their own risk and health better. 

Recent studies have also revealed links between adipose tissue and cancer. In fact, one scientific paper explains that an increase in adiposity could cause a higher risk of 13 specific types of cancer. This study demonstrates that higher levels of adipose tissue have now been linked to an increased risk of breast, kidney, and prostate cancer. Indirect links were also found, contributing to the development of endometrial cancer, as well as liver and pancreatic cancer. 

Measuring Body Composition

To obtain an accurate view of body composition, several additional factors must be considered, in addition to height and weight. 

Researchers and medical experts agree that to provide an accurate view of body composition, measurements of fat, lean, and bone mass are necessary. This means getting on a scale or calculating BMI is no longer a sufficient way to understand your health. Instead, emerging technologies can provide a more detailed breakdown of body composition, allowing you to get a better idea of how much fat your body has accumulated and pinpoint specific locations. 

The use of DEXA scans (Dual-Energy X-ray Absorptiometry) has become increasingly popular as a method for measuring body composition. This non-invasive test utilizes low-dose X-rays to provide a detailed overview of fat, lean, and bone mass—three essential elements that should be considered during a body composition assessment. 

DEXA scans are helpful for more than just determining the amount of fat in your body. Since multiple elements are measured during the scan, other benefits that you can expect include:

• The ability to keep track of lean mass. This is incredibly useful in cases where you may be trying to build muscle mass while reducing your overall body fat percentage simultaneously.
• Bone health can also be monitored with the scan results. Regular DEXA scans allow you to track your bone health over time and identify any unexpected changes. This has become an effective method for individuals to understand their risk of osteoporosis and to act before bone-related conditions develop. 

For a healthy individual seeking to gain a better understanding of their health through body composition analysis, an initial scan can be performed, with follow-up scans scheduled every three to six months. If you are at risk of problems such as osteoporosis, an annual scan is usually sufficient to track your bone mass and detect any unexpected changes. If you are trying to control your risk of chronic diseases associated with high levels of adipose tissue, a scan every quarter or so can help you track your progress toward reducing your fat mass. 

Conclusion

Measuring more than just BMI is the new standard in obtaining more accurate health insights. By considering adipose tissue, it’s possible to get a better overview of your chronic disease risk. Knowing your risks enables you to take action to prevent the development of certain diseases.

References

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38699977/

https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.124.072926

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8945130/

https://academic.oup.com/edrv/article/44/6/961/7187918