The American Medical Association (AMA) is at it again, this time pushing a new way to measure body health that seems more about political correctness than actual medical progress.
Their latest move? Promoting something called the Body Roundness Index (BRI) over the well-known Body Mass Index (BMI).
A new study in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) claims BRI is better at predicting health risks than BMI.
BRI, created in 2013, uses waist size along with height and weight in its calculations. The study authors say it’s great for estimating risks of heart disease, kidney problems, and cancer.
But here’s the kicker: this push for BRI comes right after the AMA called BMI “racist” and “problematic” last year.
An event sponsored by the American Medical Association breaks out in applause at the Trump guilty verdict.
The title of the panel is literally "Advancing Health Equity Through Resistance."
Medicine is done as a source of trusted expertise. They're not even pretending. pic.twitter.com/tIOSFweZTS
— Richard Hanania (@RichardHanania) June 2, 2024
Yes, you read that right. They actually said BMI, a basic health tool used for decades, is racist.
Dr. Marc Siegel, a well-known medical expert, didn’t hold back his criticism. He said, “I didn’t believe the AMA was going to get involved in cancel culture, but now they’re canceling the body mass index.” He defended BMI, stating simply, “It’s not racist — it’s called good medicine.”
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The AMA claims BMI is unfair because it’s based on a “ideal Caucasian” body type and doesn’t consider gender or ethnicity.
But they’re missing the point. BMI isn’t perfect, but doctors have always known that. It’s a starting point, not the final word on someone’s health.
BMI, invented by a Belgian math whiz in the 1800s, gives doctors a quick way to check if someone might be overweight.
Sure, it can sometimes label muscular people as overweight, but doctors know to look at the big picture.
BRI might be more precise, but it’s also more complicated. Is it worth confusing patients and doctors who are used to BMI? And why is the AMA so keen on making this a race issue instead of focusing on what’s best for patients?
The real problem here is that the AMA seems more interested in playing politics than improving healthcare.
They’re turning a simple medical tool into a heated debate about race, which doesn’t help anyone get healthier.
While the JAMA study authors want more research on BRI, doctors should be careful about jumping on this bandwagon too quickly.
Changing medical standards based on political pressure instead of solid science is a dangerous game.
In the end, the best way to judge someone’s health isn’t just one number or formula.
.@TomiLahren: The American Medical Association is floating the idea of taxpayer funded uterus transplants for men who think they are women. No, I’m not kidding. pic.twitter.com/AbeudwBP4d
— OutKick (@Outkick) August 18, 2023
It’s about looking at the whole person, considering various factors, and using common sense. The AMA should focus on promoting this kind of thorough, patient-focused care instead of stirring up controversy.
By pushing BRI as a solution to BMI’s supposed racism, the AMA is turning a medical issue into a political one.
This approach doesn’t just muddy the waters – it risks undermining people’s trust in medical advice altogether.
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In trying to be politically correct, the AMA might just be harming the very people they’re supposed to help.
