"My experience with the health system in Kalgoorlie"

I want to share my frustration with how the health system here in Kalgoorlie still seemingly relies so heavily on the BMI (Body Mass Index) to judge health. I understand that BMI is such an outdated and inaccurate system.

Before I got pregnant, I was a size 12, active, healthy, and feeling good in my body, yet I was still labelled “obese.” Now that I’m pregnant, it’s even worse. The BMI doesn’t take into account muscle mass, bone density, body composition, or individual health markers.

Because of this number, I’ve been told I might have to give birth in Perth rather than Kalgoorlie, even though my entire pregnancy has been perfectly healthy. That feels incredibly unfair. I believe that health professionals should be looking at the whole person, not just a number on a chart.

It’s 2025, I believe we have so much more knowledge now about body diversity and health. I think the BMI system is outdated and should no longer be the deciding factor in people’s care. In my opinion, you can see when someone is unhealthy, and it’s not always about weight.

I think that it’s time for our health system to evolve beyond the BMI and treat people as individuals, not statistics.