BMI: Is Your Health At Risk?
Turkish culture tends toward overfeeding, and over indulgence. Small wonder then that after ten years of being married into a Turkish family I find myself overweight, especially when judged from medical standards.
This year however I’ve slowly been reducing my waistline, and my weight and the good news is that I’ve gone from the category of ‘overweight’ to ‘marginally overweight’. I’ve lost around ten kilos and need to lose a further ten if I’m to get within my medically recommended weight. My body mass index [BMI] is currently 27.8.BMI is a calculation based upon your height and weight that many commercial web sites use in order to encourage you to buy their product.Doctors and other health professionals invented this scale. The best website about body weight and BMI that I’ve come across is located at www.halls.md . The site also has an excellent BMI calculator.
BMI stands for Body Mass Index. This looks technical but it’s a very simple calculation.
Your Body Mass Index equals your weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared. (BMI=kg/m2).
It can also be calculated in lbs and feet and inches. You won’t need to do this because the calculator on Dr. Hall’s website does this for you.
There is no doubt that the Body Mass Index is a useful guide.
On the other hand, there are other factors to take into account before selecting the diet, exercise or action that’s right for you.
You shouldn’t consider dieting, or other weight loss helping measures if your BMI is in a healthy range for your weight and height.
It’s daft to diet if your Body Mass Index is low! Consider some sensible exercises to improve your stamina and shape.
BMI figures calculated here don’t apply to you if you’re pregnant or breast feeding. There are specialized BMI measures for these which your obstetrician, midwife or medical practice-nurse will help you with.
If your BMI is high, and you’re not an athlete, (athletes have a slightly higher weight to height ratio than average), here’s what to do next.
Calculate your health risk based upon your height, weight AND waist measurement.
To measure your waist find the top of your hip bone and wrap a measuring tape around your belly. Make sure the tape is level. Don’t cheat by pulling the tape tight and squeezing your tummy. Be brave and record the numbers accurately.
Use the chart below to calculate if your health is at risk. Adults only please. Children, pregnant and breast-feeding mothers should not use this calculator: If you can’t find your measurements on this chart double check them.
| Risk of Associated Disease According to BMI and Waist Size | |||
| Body Mass Index |
Waist less than or equal to 40 in. (men) or 35 in. (women) |
Waist greater than 40 in. (men) or 35 in. (women) |
|
| 18.5 or less | Skinny | – | What ? |
| 18.5 – 24.9 | Fantastic | – | Who ? |
| 25.0 – 29.9 | Stout | Increased | High |
| 30.0 – 34.9 | Fat | High | Higher |
| 35.0 – 39.9 | Obese | Very High | Very High |
| 40 or greater | Oh Dear ! | Extremely High | See Your Doctor |
Sources: Partnership for Healthy Weight Management,
(and elsewhere), adapted for use here.
If the figures still seem ‘off-the-page’ then please get a professional medical check-up from your doctor. Even if you did miscalculate the numbers ~ a medical check-up can do you no harm.
Why not measure your height, weight and tummy sizes today?
