Body Mass Index – What is it?

The media has long sounded the alarm about the problem of obesity in the United States. It is a costly, common, and extremely serious problem that already affects more than 35% of Americans. If you do the maths, more than one out of every three Americans are obese. However, everyone can monitor this unhealthy condition and improve by becoming more familiar with the consequences of obesity and choosing healthier lifestyle choices.

BMI or body mass index, serves as a good measure for weight management and obesity. What is then your Body Mass Index? In just a few words, it is basically the balance between your height and weight. The higher the level of body fat, the greater your chances to be obese. A higher BMI reflects a higher risk for heart disease, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, gallstones, lung problems, and particular cancers, which have been correlated with obesity.

Calculate Your BMI

In the metric system, Weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared (weight (kg) / [height (m)] 2). You can divide the height by 100 to see centimeters expressed in meters. Or even easier, just use our BMI Calculator on this page and find out with just 1 click!. Remember, this reading should not be taken as professional medical advise, contact Dr Castaneda and request a free telephone consultation.

In the English or American system, you should take your weight in pounds and divide it by your height in terms of inches. You square that and then multiply the result by 703. This is your weight converted into the metric system. T
For example, to calculate the BMI metrically, with a given height or 165 cm, (that would be 1.65 m) and a weight of 68 kg, the BMI would be 68 ÷ (1.65) 2 would equal 24.98.

As a side note, BMI can be overestimated for muscular athletes and underestimated for older persons who naturally lose muscle.
According to the Center for Disease Control, one can be considered “underweight” if the BMI is below 18.5. It is fairly normal if it lies between 18.5 and 24.9. An overweight number would be if the BMI were 25.0 to 29.9. Obesity could be considered with a reading of 30.0 and over. However, you should consult Dr Castaneda to be sure and to ask more questions.

Studies reflect that even incremental loss in body weight such as 5 or 10 percent of current weight will lower problems associated with being obese. Some recommendations include adopting a healthier lifestyle, exercise (being inactive leads to obesity), and try to eat better and smarter throughout the day. Many people overeat out of feelings of depression, low self-esteem, or boredom. If you smoke, stop. Drink alcohol responsibly or in moderation.

Be aware that many factors contribute to a person’s BMI as well. One should take into consideration the immediate environment, one’s family history and genetic disposition and physical metabolism (how the body converts food and oxygen into energy).

Finally, by all means, recognize that controlling your Body Mass index can increase how long you live but how well you live your life. It is about a better quality of life that makes it worth living.