The chart was successfully used to hound many military officers and enlisted over the years.
A powerlifter was the first thought that came to my mind, so that others might be able to make the connection.
IIRC, even Herschel Walker was considered mildly obese - according to the HW chart - since his muscular build was off the charts for “normal” people.
Powerlifters do get bad backs, both from lifting and from their normal daily activities. The sport is hard on joints, to be sure, but why would a medical doctor deny them “non-essential” surgery due to a generic chart?
It is the use of the chart, you will agree, that determines the abuse of the rules.
This rule comes from the NHS admins, is for England, and should have no effect in the US.
But what if some admin up in the bowels of the VA Admin decided to make up a rule that affects veterans, but allows the VA to improve its health stats?
“... but why would a medical doctor deny them “non-essential” surgery due to a generic chart?”
No idea where you are getting the idea that the new rules require blind guidance to BMI charts.
A guy I know had knee replacement surgery. He also is 100 lbs overweight. If you ask him, he will tell you he should have skipped the surgery and emphasized losing weight.
For “non-urgent surgery” - which the rule applies to - addressing CAUSE before surgery is just good sense. And it would be reasonable for an insurance company to use the same rule - ‘we won’t pay for elective surgery until the cause of the problem is dealt with first’.
Bottom line: Those who pay the bills should have a right to say what bills they pay.