Body Mass Index (BMI)

Welcome back! I’m so glad you could join us! We are still talking about taking care of your health. Today I want to briefly discuss what BMI is and why it is important to know, when taking care of your health.

According to the NIH website (National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute), “Body Mass Index (BMI) is a measure of body fat based on height and weight that applies to adult men and women.” [www.nhlbi.nih.gov]

“BMI is a useful measure of overweight and obesity. It is calculated from your height and weight. BMI is an estimate of body fat and a good gauge of your risk for diseases that can occur with more body fat. The higher your BMI, the higher your risk for certain diseases such as heart disease, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, gallstones, breathing problems, and certain cancers.” [www.nhlbi.nih.gov]

Although BMI can be used for most men and women, it does have some limits:

• It may overestimate body fat in athletes and others who have a muscular build.
• It may underestimate body fat in older persons and others who have lost muscle.

BMI Categories:
Underweight = <18.5
Normal weight = 18.5–24.9
Overweight = 25–29.9
Obesity = BMI of 30 or greater

Use the calculator here to check your BMI, or use the table below: https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/educational/lose_wt/BMI/bmicalc.htm

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has a similar calculator here: https://www.cdc.gov/healthyweight/assessing/bmi/adult_bmi/english_bmi_calculator/bmi_calculator.html

The CDC also suggests that “people who are overweight or obese are at higher risk for chronic conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes, and high cholesterol.” [www.cdc.gov]

“Anyone who is overweight should try to avoid gaining additional weight. Additionally, if you are overweight with other risk factors (such as high LDL cholesterol, low HDL cholesterol, or high blood pressure), you should try to lose weight. Even a small weight loss (just 10% of your current weight) may help lower the risk of disease. Talk with your healthcare provider to determine appropriate ways to lose weight.” [www.cdc.gov]

“For information about the importance of a healthy diet and physical activity in reaching a healthy weight, visit Healthy Weight.” [www.cdc.gov]

Please conduct additional research regarding your personal situation. In the meantime, I will continue to provide topics of interest as you work to take care of your health!

Until we meet again, I pray blessings for your life! Merry Christmas!