New research presented at this year’s european congress on obesity (ECO 2025Malaga, Spain, 11–14 May) Shows that Internationally Recognized Body Mass Index (BMI) Cut-off Points Greatly Overestimate Overweight and Obesity in Male Athletes. The study, from italy, also proposes new cut-off points for overweight and obesity in this group.

The study has been Published in the journey Nutrients,

Body Mass Index (BMI) is a key method for measuring people’s weight status, defining befining befining bee have normal weight, overweight or obesity. It is easily calculated by dividing an individual’s weight in kilograms by the square of their height in meters.

A BMI of 25 kg/m² or Above is an indicator of overweight and a bmi of 30 kg/m² Or Above Indicates Obesity in White Men and Women of All Ages, According to the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Categorization System.

However, some research has found that this classification system may not be good at identifying overweight and obesity in athletes and its use in this groups have long began subject to Criticism.

“BMI does not distrust distinguish between body fat and lean mass, which incluses muscle,” EXPLAINS Professor Marwan El Ghoch, of the Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neral Sciences, UNIVERSIRESTISESES And Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy.

“As a result, a muscular athlete with low body fat can be worsely classified as living with overweight or obesity. Despite this, many sports organizations still rely Classification system. “

In a new study, Professor El Ghoch and Researchers from the University of Verona in Italy and Beirut University in Lebanon Set Out to Determine How Accurate The BMI CUT -FEFS of 25 andfs of 30 kg/m² Are at identifying overweight and obesity in male athletes and if they were found to be inacurate, to setter cutter cut -ofs.

The Cross-Sectional Study Involved 622 Males (Average age of 25.7 years, BMI ≥ 20 kg/m²) Who Had Been Referred to the Department of Neuroscience, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, of the University of Verona, Italy, and Participated in Sports Including Soccer, Rugby, Rugby, Basketball, Basketball, Volleyball, Cross-fit, karate and others at a competitive level.

The participants were categorized using the current BMI system and by their body fat percentage (bf%).

Using the current BMI system, more than a Quarter of the individuals were categorized as living with overweight or obesity. Some 451 (72.5%) individuals were of normal weight (BMI 18.5–24.99 kg/m²), 148 (23.8%) individuals was with overweight (25 kg/m²-29.9 kg/m²) And 23 (3.7%) was with obesity (30 kg/m² and Above).

Total Body Fat Percentage (BF%) was measured using dual x-ray absorptiometry (dxa) scans-known to be a highly accurate tool for measuring body composition –Corting bodying to age- and Gender-specific cut-off points. A bf% of 21% or Above was classified as overweight and a bf% of 26% or Above was classified as obesity.

Using this system, fewer than 4% of the individuals was categorized as living with overweight or obesity. Some 598 (96.1%) individuals were of normal weight, 19 (3.1%) Were with overweight and five (0.8%) was with obesity.

Professor El Ghoch, Who Led The Study, Says, “This demonstrates that the current BMI cut-off points are cleverly flwed in determining weight status in athletes, as many of the athletes and the athletes isfied Living with overweight or obesity, where, in reality, very few had body fat levels in this range. “

The Researchers Went on to use statistical modeling to identify more accurate BMI cut-off points for young male athletes. The new cut-offs, which take into account athletes’ Lower BF%, Are 28.2 Kg/M² For overweight and 33.7 kg/m² For obesity.

Study Co-Author, Professor Ciara Milanes, of the University of Verona, Explains, “Although Dxa Scans Measure Body Body Composition Accurately, ARE Not Always Sports Settings. Contrast, Weight and Height, The Two Measures Needed to Calculate BMI, are easy to obtain and, with the new bmi cut-offs that we identified, bmi could be a highly useful tool in support clubs, Both at training grounds and in competitions.

“A Direct Assessment of Body Composition Remains The Gold Standard But, In Its Absence, We Encourage Sports Organizations and Committees to Adopt the New BMI Classification System.”

The author adds that Several Further Pieces of Research Are Needed. These include identification new cut-offs for female athletes and potentially, specific cut-offs for different sports, particularly there that that was not included in the currency.

Provided by european association for the study of obesity