BMI vs. Body Fat Percentage: Which Metric Should You Trust?
Learn the differences between BMI and body fat percentage, how each is calculated, and when it makes sense to rely on one metric over the other.
Why this article matters
- BMI correlates with health risk at the population level but can misclassify athletes or people with higher muscle mass.
- Body fat percentage distinguishes fat from lean mass, yet it requires specialized tools or formulas to estimate accurately.
- Track both BMI trends and waist measurements to capture metabolic risk while accounting for body composition changes.