- BMI: Body Mass Index. A measurement using height and weight. BMI was created by an actuary Adolphe Quetelet in 1832. BMI was never meant to be used as a direct measurement of health. The ‘Quetelet Index’ was renamed the Body Mass Index (BMI) in 1972 by Ancel Keys. The BMI was based on European men and may be inaccurate for other groups such as people with skeletal dysplasias, women, people of African or Asian descent, very tall and very short people and also athletes. Here is an article about why BMI should not be used for people with dwarfism from the Little People of America Medical Advisory Board. If your medical provider uses only a BMI to determine if you are overweight, try sending them a copy of this article.
- Kyphosis: Kyphosis is an exaggerated, forward rounding of the upper back.
- Scoliosis: Scoliosis is a sideways curve of the spine. Scoliosis is common in people with Kniest, SED and SMD.