Eating disorder groups say BMI fuels weight-prejudice and urge to focus on health and lifestyle

Published on December 11, 2009 at 1:31 AM · 1 Comment

In an unprecedented show of concern, The Academy for Eating Disorders (AED), Binge Eating Disorder Association (BEDA), Eating Disorder Coalition (EDC), International Association for Eating Disorder Professionals (IADEP), and National Eating Disorder Association (NEDA) have joined forces and are urging focus on health and lifestyle rather than weight as a measurement of well-being.

In late November, media stories reported that an American university implemented a new strategy for combating rising weights by requiring students to be weighed during their freshman year. Those with a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 30 or over are required either to lose weight or pass an extra course focused on physical fitness. In response to this, and other similar strategies within the global "war against obesity", national and international eating disorder organizations have joined forces to urge school administrators, employers, and health policy makers to focus more on health and lifestyle for all populations rather than on weight alone.

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Important....and ironic

Joy

says:

December 15, 2009 at 11:36 AM

I think this is a great message. BMI is a poor indicator of health, and is only marginally correlated with actual quality of life.
Unfortunately, the great irony here is that all of these groups have so far failed to address the use of BMI as a defining indicator in the diagnostic criteria for Anorexia Nervosa. Individuals whose lives may be severely impacted by a serious eating disorder, yet have a normal BMI, are forced into the 'catch-all' diagnostic category of EDNOS (Eating Disorders Not Otherwise Specified). Unfortunately, many insurance companies do not recognize EDNOS as a legitimate illness, and do not provide coverage for it. Research into the category of EDNOS is scarce, due to its heterogeniety, which results from it being a 'dumping-ground' for a multitude of forms of ED.

We support these organizations' statements on BMI, but ask them to also consider the impact of BMI on the people with eating disorders, and the potential for harm that comes from including BMI to define course of treatment and future research.

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