03/02/2026
Why BMI doesn't tell the full story.
BMI was designed as a population-level screening tool, not a personalised health assessment.
It only uses total height and weight - it can’t distinguish between fat, muscle or bone, and doesn’t show where fat is stored. As a result, people with the same BMI can have very different health profiles!
DXA body composition scanning provides a more detailed picture by measuring fat mass, lean muscle and fat distribution. This allows health and fitness decisions to be based on what’s actually in the body, not just total weight.
For people starting a new health programme, accurate measurements can make a huge difference in goals, planning and progress tracking.