Carrying extra weight raises the risk of many chronic diseases. This includes high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes and some forms of cancer. Being overweight places excess stress on the joints, which can contribute to chronic back and joint pain. Calculating body mass index, or BMI, is one tool that can indicate whether a person is obese -- although BMI can be inaccurate in very tall people and those with a lot of muscle mass. If BMI indicates obesity, the first step is to talk with a physician so a safe and effective weight loss plan can be developed.
Identification
BMI is calculated using weight and height. It's not a direct measurement of body fat; it is an estimate of percentage of body fat, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Methods typically used to determine the percentage of body fat such as skin caliper measurements, bioelectrical impedance tests and underwater weighing can be expensive, and their accuracy relies on the training of the tester. Given this, BMI is a simpler tool that can indicate if a person's percent body fat or weight places her at risk for disease. For adults, BMI is calculated by dividing weight in pounds by height in inches squared. Then multiply the answer by a conversion factor of 703. Children require a more comprehensive analysis to determine obesity, which should be done with their physician. BMI should not be the only tool used to assess disease risk because it has limitations.
Results
According to the Office of the Surgeon General, once body mass index reaches 25 to 29.9, a person is considered overweight. Class 1 obesity is diagnosed when the reading is between 30 and 34.9. Class 2 is between 35 and 39.9. Morbid obesity is diagnosed when BMI reaches 40 and higher. Being overweight is not only linked to illnesses, it increases the risk of developing arthritis, depression, breathing problems and sleep apnea. The risk is greater as soon as BMI reaches 25, and the higher BMI climbs, the greater the chances of developing a weight-related health problem.
Considerations
BMI readings may indicate obesity in healthy people. Athletes who have a high percentage of muscle mass may have a high BMI and a low percentage of body fat, meaning they aren't actually obese. People who have lost a significant amount of muscle mass due to being deconditioned may have a low BMI but a high percentage of body fat, which places them at risk for disease. This means that other factors must be taken into consideration along with BMI. This includes blood pressure, cholesterol levels, level of daily activity, eating habits and others to fully assess the risk of disease. When it comes to obesity, the American Heart Association also recommends measuring waist circumference. Non-pregnant women with a waist measurement of 35 inches or more or a man whose waist size is 40 inches or more is at an even greater risk if BMI is 25 or higher.
Solution
To lose weight, it takes about 30 to 45 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic type activity on most days of the week. Because 1 lb. is equal to 3,500 calories to lose 1 lb. to 2 lbs. per week, there must be a caloric deficit of 500 to 1,000 each day. This deficit can occur by cutting back on the amount of food consumed or by exercising hard enough to burn calories off. It doesn't take much: Losing just 5 percent to 10 percent of current weight starts to lower the risk of disease, says the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute.
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