BMI真的是衡量肥胖的最佳方式吗？
Is BMI Really the Best Way to Measure Obesity?
常速| 六级（偏易）| 254词| 1min49s
刘立军供稿
Part I. QUESTIONS
Listen to the passage and choose the best answer to each question you hear.
Q1. According to common guidelines, what BMI value is classified as obese?
A. Over 25.
B. Over 27.
C. Over 30.
D. Over 35.
Q2. What is one main limitation of BMI mentioned in the passage?
A. It requires expensive scanning equipment.
B. It cannot distinguish between fat, muscle, and bone.
C. It changes daily based on dietary intake.
D. It ignores waist measurements.
Q3. What change did the Italian study suggest for older adults?
A. Lowering the obesity threshold to a BMI of 27.
B. Increasing the obesity threshold to 30.
C. Using waist-to-hip ratio instead of BMI.
D. Eliminating BMI requirements for people over 60.
Q4. What can be inferred about BMI compared to body fat scans?
A. BMI is more accurate in identifying obesity.
B. BMI is preferred because it measures muscle mass directly.
C. BMI requires more complex equipment.
D. BMI is less costly and simpler to use.
Q5. What is the passage mainly about?
A. Why BMI should be replaced by body fat scans.
B. The benefits of using BMI for measuring obesity.
C. The limitations of BMI and possible improvements.
D. How to maintain a healthy BMI through exercise.
Part II. TRANSCRIPT
Is BMI Really the Best Way to Measure Obesity?
Have we been measuring obesity the wrong way all along? For decades, the Body Mass Index (BMI) has been the go-to method for assessing whether someone’s weight is healthy for their height. (Q1) According to common guidelines, a BMI over 25 is considered overweight, and over 30 is classified as obese. These thresholds can vary depending on ethnic background.
go-to method 首选方法
threshold n. 临界点
BMI is quick, inexpensive, and endorsed by the World Health Organization—but it’s far from perfect. (Q2) It doesn’t distinguish between fat, muscle, and bone. This means that a muscular athlete and someone with excess body fat could have the same BMI. As we age, muscle mass tends to decrease while fat—especially around the waist—often increases, even if our weight stays the same.
endorse v. 认可
muscular adj. 肌肉发达的
Because of these limitations, researchers have been questioning BMI’s accuracy for years. In one study from Italy, scientists scanned people aged 40 to 80 to measure their actual body fat percentage. They discovered that far more individuals were obese by body fat measurements than by BMI alone.
(Q3) Based on their findings, the researchers suggest lowering the obesity threshold for older adults to a BMI of 27. However, more research is needed to confirm this adjustment. (Q4) For now, BMI remains the standard tool simply because it’s affordable and easy to use—unlike body fat scans, which require specialized equipment.
The takeaway? (Q5) BMI can be a useful starting point, but it shouldn’t be the only measure we rely on. Understanding its limitations could help us make better, more accurate decisions about health and weight.
Part III. KEY
Q1. C.【解析】细节题。题目出处为：“According to common guidelines, a BMI over 25 is considered overweight, and over 30 is classified as obese.”意为：“根据通用指南，BMI超过25被视为超重，超过30被归类为肥胖。”因此正确答案为C。
Q2. B.【解析】细节题。题目出处为：“It doesn’t distinguish between fat, muscle, and bone.”意为：“它不能区分脂肪、肌肉和骨骼。”从中可推断，这是BMI的一个主要局限，因此正确答案为B。
Q3. A.【解析】细节题。题目出处为：“Based on their findings, the researchers suggest lowering the obesity threshold for older adults to a BMI of 27.”意为：“根据他们的研究结果，研究人员建议将老年人的肥胖临界值降低到BMI 27。”因此正确答案为A。
Q4. D.【解析】推理题。题目出处为：“For now, BMI remains the standard tool simply because it’s affordable and easy to use—unlike body fat scans, which require specialized equipment.”意为：“目前，BMI仍然是标准工具，就是因为它价格低廉且易于使用，不像体脂扫描那样需要专业设备。”从中推断，BMI比体脂扫描成本更低且更易操作，因此正确答案为D。
Q5. C.【解析】主旨题。全文讨论了BMI的局限性——即无法区分脂肪、肌肉和骨骼，并提到一些研究者建议降低老年人的肥胖临界值来提升BMI的准确性，最后建议人们参考体脂扫描等其他检测方法来为自身的健康做决策。可推断，文章主要围绕BMI的不足及改进建议展开，因此正确答案为C。
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