The Body Mass Index

The BMI is EVERYWHERE. But is it scientific or scientif-ish? While many Americans think of the body mass index as an objective measure of health, its history reveals a more complicated story. This week, Mike and Aubrey tackle the first in a two-part series about the BMI and the “Obesity Epidemic.” Along the way they visit 18th century Belgium, learn a gross new acronym and dissect Dracula's facial features. LINKS!:The Bizarre and Racist History of the BMI (Elemental) Adolphe Quetelet, Social Physics, and the Average Men of Science, 1796-1874 (University of Pittsburgh Press)Mindful of eugenics’ dark history, researchers are reexamining the genetics of social mobility (Quartz) Adolphe Quetelet (1796–1874)—the average man and indices of obesity (Nephrology Dialysis Transplantation)For Researchers on Obesity: Historical Review of Extra Body Weight Definitions (Obesity)Quetelet, Adolphe (Canada’s Eugenics Archives)Top 10 Reasons Why The BMI Is Bogus (NPR)The False Science Linking Body Shape to Personality (The Atlantic)Obesity task force linked to WHO takes “millions” from drug firms (The BMJ)Impact of weight bias and stigma on quality of care and outcomes for patients with obesity (Obesity Reviews) Support the show

Episode metadata supplied by the publisher feed · Published Aug 3, 2021

Embed this episode

Attribution link and audio player

What this episode covers

Distinct summary based on available episode metadata or transcript content.

NOW PLAYING

The Body Mass Index

0:00 1:08:58

1×

No transcript for this episode yet

We transcribe on demand. Request one and we'll notify you when it's ready — usually under 10 minutes.

Share this episode

Similar Episodes

No similar episodes found.

Similar Podcasts

The High Life with Ricki Lake Lemonada Media Hosted by Emmy-winning talk show host Ricki Lake, The High Life brings us into Ricki’s blissed-out world of joy and pleasure, featuring conversations with compelling guests who have cracked the code to living a full and vibrant life. Join Ricki in her best phase of life — midlife — as she gets into sex, menopause, weight, energy healing, and all things wellness. The High Life will elevate your spirits so you can discover how to live a life filled with calm, ease and a lot of f*cking fun. Explicit The Starseed Awakening Podcast Monet Noctaris The Starseed Awakening Podcast began as a real-time chronicle of one soul’s awakening—Monet’s journey of remembering who she is, why she’s here, and what it means to walk the path of a starseed in an unraveling world.What started as a personal exploration soon became a mirror for others. Each episode captured a living moment: the initiations, the transmissions, the grief, the breakthroughs—nothing prepackaged or polished, only what was true in the moment.Now, as the Earth enters a new harmonic phase, this podcast is no longer just a story.It is a signal. A transmission point.A place to receive frequencies meant to support your own shift in real time.Here, awakening isn’t a concept.It’s a living, breathing experience.And this space is for those who feel the stir beneath the surface and want to walk with presence, trust, and courage into what’s coming next. Explicit Kids with Big Emotions Podcast Andi Clark If your child has big emotions that affect your daily life, you are not alone.Since my son was born he has experienced intense anxiety and emotional outbursts that have been challenging. This led me to become a sleep, stress, and resilience coach helping me understand and learn how to regulate my son's nervous system so he was not living in a stressed fight or flight state all of the time. The school environment heightened his anxiety as they focused on managing his outbursts rather than understanding their root causes.While navigating these complexities, I’ve faced numerous challenges and setbacks. However, each phase of my son's development has brought new opportunities for growth and learning for both of us. It’s a continuous process, but it is possible to support and understand children with big emotions more effectively.Through this podcast, I aim to reassure and inspire you. Many children experience intense emotions, and together, we can discover better ways to support not Explicit

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is this episode of Maintenance Phase?

This episode is 1 hour and 8 minutes long.

When was this Maintenance Phase episode published?

This episode was published on August 3, 2021.

Is there a transcript available for this episode?

Yes, a full transcript is available for this episode. You can read the complete transcript on the episode page.

Can I download this Maintenance Phase episode?

Yes. Use the download control on the episode player to save the publisher-provided media file.

URL copied to clipboard!