Experts have asked for a change in the way body mass index (BMI) is calculated, after it has been found that people classed as overweight actually live the longest.

A study which covered 30 years found that people with a BMI of 27, which is considered as being overweight, have the lowest risk of dying from any condition.

The findings raised further questions about the BMI system as it cannot recognise muscle from fat.

As muscle is much heavier than fat, a well-built muscular athlete may be  categorised as obese when infact they are very healthy.

Body mass index is used to measure if you are at a healthy weight for your height.

For adults:

• a BMI of under 18.5 means you are considered underweight
• a BMI of 18.5 to 24.9 means you are considered healthy weight
• a BMI of 25 to 29.9 means you are considered overweight
• a BMI of 30 to 39.9 means you are considered obese
• a BMI of 40 or above means you are considered severely obese

The average BMI for a British woman is 26.9 and for a man is 27. Therefore the average adult in Britian is considered as overweight.

Researchers from Copenhagen University Hospital in Denmark led a study which showed that the healthiest measurement had increased by 3.3 BMI points since the 1970s.

To read more about the study CLICK HERE.

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