| So
what is a BMI and why is it important?
The BMI is a tool to determine your overall risk for
health problems like cardiac disease and diabetes.
Individuals with a BMI of more than 24.9 have an above
average risk of developing these diseases. The BMI alone does not give the
whole picture though. Obviously two individuals could be the
same
height and weight ( And therefore the same BMI) but have
very different health risks depending on how the weight is
distributed.
Waist circumference can be used in the assessment to
overcome this shortcoming inherent in the BMI calculation
since obese people will have larger waists for any given
height. The table below incorporates both the BMI and waist
circumference to give an overall risk assessment.
|
|
|
Waist
Circumference
|
|
BMI
|
Obesity
Class |
Men
40 in or less
Women 35 in or less |
Men
more than 40 in Women more than 35 in |
| Underweight |
< 18.5 |
|
normal
risk
|
Increased
risk
|
| Normal |
18.5 - 24.9 |
|
normal
risk
|
Increased
risk
|
| Overweight |
25.0 - 29.9 |
|
Increased
risk |
High
risk |
| Obesity |
30.0 - 34.9 |
I |
High
risk
|
Very High
risk
|
|
35.0 - 39.9 |
II |
Very High
risk
|
Very High
risk
|
| Extreme Obesity |
40.0 + |
III |
Extremely High
risk
|
Extremely High
risk
|
If you fit into any of the higher risk categories then
you need to loose weight. It has been known for a
long time that obesity is a major risk factor for high blood
pressure, diabetes, heart disease, and cancers of the breast
and uterus. In a recent study1 patients with
average BMI's of 37.9 were compared to a group with an
average BMI of 22.4. Those with the higher BMI's had
50% more visits to the doctor, spent twice as much on
prescriptions and total health care costs, and required
three times as many hospitalizations. Health care costs
increased 2.3% for every one unit increase in BMI in this
study. Another recent study2 showed that obese
patients are significantly more likely to have miscarriages
( approximately 20% increase versus control group). The
results of a third3 study suggest that overweight
and obese women also have longer labors and are more likely
to require c-sections. The best way to lose weight is with
a well balanced diet and exercise. Check the links below for
further information.
|
 |
MyPyramid.gov
This web site run by the U.S. Department of
Agriculture has information and guidelines on proper
nutritional intake. New features include a
personalized food pyramid customized to your age, sex,
and activity level. |
|
|
 |
Although we don't usually promote
commercial web sites here, I have found weight
watchers to be the healthiest and all around best diet
for my patients over the years. Whether you're trying
to lose weight, maintain your weight, or just eat
better, this is a good place to look. |
|
|
1Raebel
MA et al. Health services use and health care costs of obese
and nonobese individuals. Arch
Intern Med 2004 Oct 25; 164:2135-40 2Lashen
H et al. Obesity is associated with increased risk of first
trimester and recurrent miscarriage: Matched case-control
study. Hum Reprod 2004 Jul; 19:1644-6 3Vahratian
A et al. Maternal prepregnancy overweight and obesity and
the pattern of labor progression in term nulliparous women.
Obstet Gynecol 2004 Nov; 104:943-51 |
