WE definitely need clarity over what does and does not constitute being overweight.

Doubt is now being cast over the use of the Body Mass Index (BMI) routinely used to measure whether individuals are overweight for their height. The results of this standard test often mean people of all ages – especially young children – are told to lose weight to remain healthy.

But researchers believe that the BMI can be misleading, with the implications, too, that some people with a “healthy” BMI score actually do need to lose weight.

When so much these days, from jobs to surgery, relies on how many pounds over or under we are we definitely need a reliable measure of what constitutes an acceptable weight-range.

We must have confidence in such an important test or its value is meaningless. Weight gain or loss has a direct correlation to health and it’s just too important for doubt.