BMI has been the benchmark in evaluating health and fitness for many years. The formula is quite simple: weight in kilograms divided by the square of height in meters. This would easily tell if one is underweight, within the healthy weight range, overweight, or obese. But with new research findings, scientists are now questioning its accuracy and usefulness as a total measure of body composition.

The report, published in The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology, has sparked a global conversation on rethinking BMI. Supported by more than 50 international medical experts, the report suggests classifying obesity into "clinical" and "pre-clinical" types for better diagnosis and treatment. The shift underscores a growing consensus: BMI alone may not tell the full story of your health.

While BMI is simple to calculate and universally accessible, it is far from perfect. It does not consider muscle mass, bone density, or fat distribution, leading to misleading conclusions in some cases. For example, athletes with a high muscle mass may be considered overweight, whereas individuals with normal BMI might carry unhealthy amounts of visceral fat.

A landmark study in JAMA Network Open studied more than 155,000 postmenopausal women and found that women with a normal BMI but a waist size over 35 inches were more likely to die from heart disease or cancer compared with their counterparts whose waists are smaller. That makes a great case for how BMI can be insufficient and fat distribution must be factored into account.

Not all body fat is equal. Subcutaneous fat, which lies just beneath the skin, is relatively harmless. The real health danger lies in visceral fat—fat that surrounds internal organs. Unlike subcutaneous fat, visceral fat is metabolically active, releasing stress hormones like cortisol and inflammatory substances that raise blood pressure, blood sugar, and cholesterol levels. These effects significantly increase the risk of conditions such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and certain cancers.

BMI Isn't Always the Best Measure of Body Composition — Here's What to Use Instead

Since BMI is not the most reliable measure, scientists and doctors have sought other means to measure body composition more accurately.

1. Waist Circumference

A simple tape measure can provide valuable insight into your health. Measure your waist at the level of your belly button, ensuring the tape is parallel to the ground. For women, a waist measurement under 35 inches is considered healthy, while for men, the goal is under 40 inches.

2. Waist-to-Hip Ratio

This is the ratio of your waist circumference to that of your hips. To calculate it, divide your waist measurement by your hip measurement. According to the National Center for Biotechnology Information, a ratio under 0.8 for women and 0.9 for men is considered healthy.

3. Body Roundness Index (BRI)

A newer method that seems to be receiving more attention involves the Body Roundness Index or BRI: height, weight, and girth are placed together to represent a more advanced view of what body composition says. Research presented in JAMA Network Open offers evidence that this BRI predicts mortality risk greater than BMI in some cases- a promising weapon for public health.

Also Read: Using BMI To Classify People As Obese Is Flawed Say Experts

Ways To Cut Off Unhealthy Fat

The good news is that visceral fat responds well to lifestyle changes. Here are three evidence-based strategies:

Time-Restricted Eating

Adopting an eating window of 12 hours—such as from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.—can significantly reduce visceral fat, according to a study published in Nutrition Research Reviews. This approach not only helps control caloric intake but also reduces late-night snacking, a known risk factor for abdominal obesity.

Limit Alcohol Intake

Excessive alcohol consumption is associated with increased belly fat. A 2017 study published in Public Health Nutrition revealed that alcohol increases the levels of insulin and encourages the storage of fat in the abdominal area. Limiting alcohol to occasional indulgence helps avoid weight gain in this region.

High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT)

HIIT involves repeated episodes of high-intensity exercise separated by periods of rest. A review in *Sports Medicine* concluded that HIIT is very effective in reducing visceral and total body fat. It can be noted that adding just 20 minutes of HIIT two times a week can make all the difference.

The reliance on BMI as a sole indicator of health is increasingly being challenged. While it remains a convenient screening tool, its limitations necessitate a broader approach that considers factors like fat distribution, waist circumference, and new metrics such as BRI.

In the simplest of words, health is multi-dimensional, and shifting perspectives from considering weight solely to broader measures of body composition will get people a much clearer understanding of where their health risks are so that they can take the action required for a better quality of life. Through adjustment to diet, exercise, or perhaps through innovative metrics like BRI, health is well within reach of the individual.

This dynamic conversation raises the point about personalized health screenings, which helps everyone get more relevant tools fitting their unique lives and circumstances. As body composition research is enhanced, so do the futures look brighter and brighter for the times of measurement when it comes to health.

Definition and diagnostic criteria of clinical obesity. The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology.

Association of Normal-Weight Central Obesity With All-Cause and Cause-Specific Mortality Among Postmenopausal Women. JAMA Netw Open. 2019

Waist-Hip Ratio. NIH.

Physiological responses to food intake throughout the day. Nutr Res Rev. 2014

Association between abdominal obesity and alcohol drinking pattern in normal-weight, middle-aged adults. Public Health Nutr. 2017

Cancer affects millions of people worldwide. No matter how careful you are or how healthily you live, cancer may catch you with you sooner or later. Breast cancer is the one of the leading causes of death in women and it was estimated to have caused 670,000 deaths globally and it also the most unpredictable. While there has been research done on it, according to the World Health Organization, half of the breast cancer occurs in women with no specific risk factor other than sex and age.

However, rehabilitation is also very possible, and many people have beaten the odds by surviving breast cancer. When someone goes into cancer remission, they are given some specific treatments so that the cancer does not come back. However, many times it is not as effective.

To find out better ways to keep cancer away, researchers looked into exercising, and focused one fitness program that could prove useful.

The August 2025 study, published in Breast Cancer Research and Treatment journal, suggests that exercising may directly help suppress the growth of breast cancer cells. The research involved 32 women who'd survived breast cancer and found that a single session of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) or weightlifting changed their body's chemistry.

Afterward, their blood contained higher levels of certain molecules that helped put the brakes on laboratory-grown breast cancer cells. This research adds to growing evidence that exercise is a powerful tool for cancer survivors.

How Exercise Works Against Cancer

For years, doctors have known that cancer survivors who exercise are less likely to have their cancer return. This new study helps explain why. When we use our muscles, they release special hormones and biochemicals called myokines into our bloodstream. These myokines are believed to be the body’s natural cancer fighters. In the study, blood taken from the women after they exercised was added to live cancer cells in a lab. The results were clear: the blood from both groups reduced cancer cell growth by 19% to 29%.

What Kind of Exercise is Best For Breast Cancer?

The study compared two types of workouts: HIIT and weightlifting. Both helped, but the blood from the women who did HIIT had a greater effect on the cancer cells, reducing their growth more significantly. This suggests that more strenuous, high-intensity workouts may be more effective at releasing the beneficial myokines, especially a key protein called IL-6. The study found that IL-6 levels were significantly higher in the HIIT group immediately after their workout.

This research has major implications for how we view exercise. It’s no longer just a "nice thing to do" to feel better; it's increasingly being recognized as a powerful tool in cancer treatment. The study's authors believe exercise could be a "first-line treatment" in its own right, alongside traditional therapies like chemotherapy and radiation. If you are a cancer survivor, you should talk to your oncologist before starting a new workout routine, but this study offers a hopeful message that working out can be a simple, accessible, and effective way to improve your health and cut the risk of cancer returning.

Ancient Japanese samurai were known for their discipline, precision, and ritualized approach to life. Now, researchers suggest that their deliberate movements may offer a surprising benefit for modern-day seniors, helping them stay strong, steady, and less prone to falls.

Ancient Samurai Practice Meets Modern Science

A randomized controlled trial from Tohoku University in Japan explored the benefits of Rei-ho, an ancient mindful practice of physical etiquette that involves slow, precise movements like sitting, standing, and walking. The findings were published in the Tohoku Journal of Experimental Medicine. Researchers found that just five minutes of Rei-ho a day can significantly improve knee strength, a crucial factor for mobility and fall prevention in older adults.

"Knee extension strength, the force used to straighten the knees, is a key measure of mobility and daily functioning," explains exercise physiologist Ayaka Ogasawara. "These exciting results suggest that Rei-ho may help seniors maintain their independence."

The Study: Small Effort, Big Gains

Researchers recruited 34 healthy adults over the age of 20, all with no prior experience in Rei-ho. Participants were split into two groups, one group continued their usual daily activities, while the other practiced 20 to 22 Rei-ho squats and sit-to-stand exercises for five minutes a day, four days a week.

After three months, the results were striking. The Rei-ho group showed a 25.9% increase in knee extension strength, compared to just 2.5% in the control group. Such a dramatic improvement in such a short time is encouraging, particularly since stronger knees are linked to better balance and a lower risk of falls.

Although the participants were not seniors, the researchers believe the results could be even more beneficial for older adults, whose lower-limb strength tends to decline more rapidly with age.

Why Lower-Body Strength Matters

As we age, muscle mass and strength naturally decline, a condition known as sarcopenia. This loss is most pronounced in the lower body, which can lead to frailty, poor balance, and an increased risk of falls.

"In recent years, the decline in muscle strength and physical fitness has become a significant public health concern," the researchers write. "The problem is worsened by sedentary lifestyles, making it all the more important to find simple, low-risk interventions that work."

Rei-ho fits the bill perfectly. It uses only body weight, involves slow, controlled motions, and minimizes the risk of injury or spikes in blood pressure that can occur with more intense workouts.

More Than Just Exercise: A Cultural Connection

This is not the first time ancient practices have been found to benefit modern health. Traditional martial arts, yoga, and tai chi have all been linked to improvements in strength, flexibility, and mental focus.

"We think it’s valuable that people outside Japan who want to try Rei-ho would not only improve their health but also experience a unique part of Japanese tradition," says exercise physiologist Akira Sato.

While the study was relatively small and relied on participants to practice without supervision, the findings are promising. For seniors looking for a simple, low-impact way to protect their mobility, Rei-ho offers a unique blend of mindful movement and functional strength training.

In just five minutes a day, following the deliberate movements inspired by samurai tradition might help keep knees strong, reduce fall risk, and allow older adults to stay active and independent for longer.

A medical fact you may have heard of regarding your brain health is that you cannot biologically regrow more brain cells. Many times, we were told that your brain cells cannot grow back once they are lost whether in an accident or however, turned fact was proven otherwise by many studies. These studies showed that your brain keeps growing new neurons even in old age. However, do you know one thing that can make this growth even better?

It's long been known that exercise is good for your body, but it's also a powerful tool for your brain. When you work out, your muscles release a special chemical called BDNF, which stands for Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor.

In a recent video Robert W.B. Love, a neuroscientist, specializing in helping people prevent Alzheimer’s disease, he explained how Dr. Elizabeth Gould, a neuroscientist at Princeton, confirmed this by publishing studies showing that adult mammals can produce new brain cells in the hippocampus, the brain's memory center. As such there are also exercises that can help you better your BDNF.

Think of BDNF as a kind of fertilizer for your brain. It helps new brain cells and new connections between them grow and get stronger. By getting your muscles moving, you can boost the levels of BDNF throughout your body and directly in your brain, helping to keep it healthy and sharp as you age.

What is the Best Exercise for Brain Health

While all forms of exercise are great, new research suggests that resistance training, or weightlifting, is particularly effective. At a recent conference on aging, it was shared that this type of exercise releases the highest amount of BDNF compared to other exercises like running or cycling.

Having higher levels of BDNF in your body is linked to a lower risk of all kinds of diseases. It also supports healthy brain function and helps you age better. So, if you want to give your brain the biggest boost from exercise, start incorporating some form of resistance training into your routine.

Getting Started with Resistance Training

You don't need a gym membership to start doing resistance training. You can use simple exercises with your own body weight. For example, you can do squats, which are great for your legs, or push-ups, which work your arms and chest.

The main idea is to use your muscles by pushing or pulling against something. If you're new to this kind of exercise, it's a good idea to work with a coach or a trainer to make sure you're doing the moves safely and correctly. This will help you get the maximum benefit while preventing any injuries. Here are some exercises you can do at home according to British Heart Fedaration.

How to Get Started

To get the most out of strength training, experts recommend doing it at least twice a week, with at least one full day of rest in between sessions. These exercises should be done in addition to 150 minutes of moderate aerobic activity per week, like brisk walking.

Heel Raises

Stand and lift your heels off the floor, balancing on your toes, then slowly lower them back down.

Sit-to-Stand

Stand up slowly from a sturdy chair, then gradually sit back down without using your hands.

Standing Side Leg Lifts

Lift one leg out to the side while keeping your body straight, then slowly return it to the center.

Split Squats

With one foot behind you, bend your front knee to lower your body toward the floor.

Glute Bridges

Lie on your back with your knees bent and feet flat, then lift your hips off the floor.

Seated Forward Punches

While sitting, make fists and punch one arm forward at a time, alternating arms.

Seated Biceps Curls

Sit straight and bend your elbows to bring your hands toward your shoulders, then lower them back down.

Seated Upright Rows

Sit straight and lift your elbows up and out to the sides, as if lifting a shopping bag.

Chair Dips

Sit on the edge of a chair, place your hands on the seat, and lower your body a few inches before pushing back up.

Wall Push-ups

Stand facing a wall, place your hands on it, and lean your body in toward the wall by bending your elbows.