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Staying Healthy
Is BMI the best predictor of future health?
- By Anthony L. Komaroff, MD, Editor in Chief, Harvard Health Letter
Ask the doctor
Q. My doctor says that measurements like body mass index or other measurements are better predictors of my future health than my weight. What are these other measurements?
A. Why does a doctor measure your weight? To find out how much fat you have — particularly unhealthy types of fat. There are several fancy and expensive ways of measuring the amount of body fat, but they are useful primarily in research studies.
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