Heartiest Officials Regular Read October 17, 2025 Let’s begin with a confession: If you’ve ever calculated your BMI on Google, looked at that little chart, and proudly said, “See! I’m normal!” — you might want to sit down for this one. Because that comforting “normal” number? It’s lying to you. Especially if you’re Indian. The Myth That Fooled a Billion People BMI (Body Mass Index) is that simple formula we all learned in school: Weight (kg) ÷ Height (m²). The result? A neat classification: Below 18.5 → Underweight 18.5–24.9 → Normal 25–29.9 → Overweight 30+ → Obese Sounds wonderfully scientific, right? It’s easy, cheap, and universally accepted. Except it was created in the 1830s — by a Belgian mathematician. Not a doctor. Not an Indian. And definitely not someone who’d ever tasted butter chicken. Adolphe Quetelet designed BMI to study populations, not individuals. It was meant for European averages — tall, lean, Caucasian men — not South Asians with completely different genetic and metabolic profiles. In short: BMI is like using a French shirt size to fit an Indian family. The Science: Why Indians Break the BMI Rule 1. We Have Higher Body Fat at Lower BMIs Multiple studies — including those from AIIMS and Harvard — show that Indians carry up to 30% more body fat than Westerners with the same BMI. So while a Westerner with a BMI of 24 might be fine, an Indian with 24 could already be in the early stages of insulin resistance or fatty liver. In simple words: Our bodies store more fat, especially around the belly and organs (visceral fat) — even when we look “slim.” That’s why cardiologists call it the “thin–fat Indian” syndrome. 2. Our Metabolic Risk Starts Earlier Western “overweight” begins at BMI 25. But Indian “metabolic overweight” begins around 23. This means that your doctor could be telling you you’re fine — while your arteries are silently accumulating risk. In fact, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) officially recommends redefining BMI cut-offs for Indians: Overweight: >23 Obese: >25 So, according to Indian science — your “normal” BMI might actually be overweight. 3. Fat Distribution: The Belly Betrayal BMI can’t tell where your fat is. And that’s a fatal blind spot. Indian bodies tend to deposit fat around the abdomen rather than hips or thighs. This central obesity is directly linked to higher cholesterol, diabetes, and heart disease. So yes, you might have thin arms, visible collarbones, and a deadly waistline. And BMI won’t notice. Humor Break: Indian Gym Logic If you’ve ever been to an Indian gym, you’ll hear classics like: “Bro, BMI is fine. Just need to lose 2 kg before Goa.” Or the reverse: “Aunty, your BMI is slightly high.” “Arre beta, it’s just water weight. My bones are heavy.” BMI has become the national comfort blanket — the number that lets us feel okay about ignoring our lifestyle. But it’s like checking your fuel gauge when the engine’s on fire. Global Research Has Moved On — But We Haven’t The Lancet (2022) highlighted that BMI is a poor predictor of health risk in South Asians because it misses metabolic syndrome, fatty liver, and high visceral fat. Similarly, WHO’s Global Health Observatory now acknowledges that BMI “should be interpreted in context of ethnicity.” Translation: One size doesn’t fit all — literally. But in India, we still cling to BMI because it’s easy, free, and gives us an excuse to skip our check-ups. Deep Thinking: Why We Love Simplified Lies Let’s be honest — BMI survives not because it’s right, but because it’s convenient. It’s fast. It’s binary. It’s non-threatening. You don’t have to get a blood test. You don’t have to face uncomfortable truths. Just plug in numbers and tell yourself: “At least I’m in the green zone.” But health isn’t about zones. It’s about biology. And biology doesn’t care about your chart color — it cares about your inflammation, your blood sugar, your sleep, and your stress. BMI makes us feel in control. But real control starts with awareness, not illusion. What Should Indians Use Instead? If you really want to know your health status, start here: 1. Waist-to-Height Ratio Keep your waist circumference below half your height. If you’re 5’6” (66 inches), your waist should be <33 inches. This simple metric beats BMI in predicting cardiac and diabetes risk in South Asians. 2. Body Fat Percentage Track this using a bio-impedance scale or DEXA scan. Healthy range for Indians: Men: 18–25% Women: 25–32% 3. Metabolic Markers Ask your doctor for: Fasting insulin & glucose ApoB and Lp(a) Triglycerides & HDL ratio These reveal far more than your BMI ever will. 4. Waist-Hip Ratio (WHR) An easy marker for belly fat. Men: <0.9 Women: <0.85 Simple tape. Lifesaving truth. Humor Break: BMI and Bollywood Imagine if BMI were applied to Bollywood: Salman Khan and your neighborhood uncle could both have the same BMI — one flexing muscles, the other flexing excuses. Or Kareena Kapoor’s “size zero” phase would have made her a case study in “underweight risk” while half of India thought it was the new health goal. BMI may be useful for doctors managing populations, but for real people? It’s just lazy math. The Real Lesson: Know Your Biology, Not Just Your Number Here’s the uncomfortable truth: We Indians can’t afford Western health shortcuts. Our genetics are different. Our diets are richer. Our stress is chronic. BMI is too outdated to capture the complexity of modern Indian health. It’s like checking the temperature outside while ignoring the storm inside. The heart, liver, and pancreas don’t care about your BMI — they care about how hard they’re working behind the scenes. The Final Beat So next time someone asks your BMI, smile and say: “I’ve upgraded to metrics that actually work.” Because we don’t need outdated math. We need mindful metrics. The real victory isn’t seeing “normal” on a chart — it’s feeling normal when you wake up, climb stairs, or chase life. If this blog made you rethink how you measure your health, share it. Someone you know is still proudly quoting their BMI — and silently ignoring their belly fat. Share on Facebook Share on Twitter
-Regular ReadYour Heart Remembers Every Habit — The Good, the Bad, and the Beautiful October 17, 2025
