News

Beyond the Scale: How Multiomics and Biological BMI Can Help Achieve Optimal Health

In the mid-1800s, a Belgian mathematician developed what would eventually become the body mass index (BMI). This equation – calculated by dividing a person’s weight in kilograms by height in meters squared – has been an informative tool to determine if an individual is underweight, normal weight, overweight or obese. However, classical BMI is known to misclassify one-third of the population. 

ISB researchers have constructed a biological BMI that provides a more accurate representation of metabolic health and is more varied, informative and actionable than long-used classical BMI. 

ISB Senior Research Scientist Dr. Noa Rappaport, senior author of the biological BMI research that was recently published in Nature Medicine, talked about biological BMI in an ISB Research Roundtable presentation titled “Beyond the Scale: How Multiomics and Biological BMI Can Help Achieve Optimal Health.” You can watch her presentation here, or by clicking play on the video above. You can learn more about biological BMI by reading our ISB news story.

Research Roundtable

ISB hosts several Research Roundtable conversations each year to feature our leading scientists discussing their latest research. These free virtual events are designed for non-scientists, and are open to anyone interested in the topics.

Past Research Roundtable topics include complex bacterial communities, the gut microbiome, long COVID, the impact of COVID-19 on pregnancy, Alzheimer’s disease, finding drugs to treat tuberculosis, identifying markers for cancer years before diagnosis, and many more. 

You can explore all past Research Roundtable talks and our other events here.

Recent Articles

  • Autoimmune Disease and Pregnancy: ISB Study Challenges Prevailing Wisdom, Unveils Nuances

    An ISB-led study showed nuanced pregnancy outcomes for pregnant individuals with autoimmune disease. The findings reinforce that there isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach, and provides important new avenues for further investigation.

  • ISB Building at dusk

    2023 Year in Review

    Throughout 2023, ISB research has been published in impactful peer-reviewed journals and our scientists have been featured in major media outlets and popular podcasts. In this 2023 Year in Review, we showcase some of our most important and interesting highlights of the year.

  • Lifestyle coaching improves cognitive decline in Alzheimer's disease trial.

    Personalized Coaching Decreases Cognitive Decline in Early-Stage Alzheimer’s Disease Patients

    Supplementing the standard of treatment for Alzheimer’s disease patients with personalized lifestyle coaching leads to less cognitive decline compared to standard of treatment alone, according to an ISB-led two-year study. The results were published in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease.