BMI Vs. Mortality

The body mass index scale, or BMI, is an assessment of your body fat level. Using a simple equation or chart you can estimate your percent of body fat. Optimal health involves controlling the amount of body fat you have, so it is no wonder then that your BMI can be correlated with mortality.

The Relationship Between BMI and Mortality

The amount of weight you gain throughout your adult life can determine your risk of mortality. When all other factors are accounted for, being overweight or obese directly affects mortality. According to the NHANES study published in 1999, a BMI of 33 or greater was associated with a life expectancy reduction of one to two years.

BMI Standards

Ideally your BMI should rest somewhere between 18.5 and 24.9. A BMI from 25 to 29.9 places you in the overweight category and a BMI greater than 30 means you are obese. A study published in the "New England Journal of Medicine" in 1999 indicates a comparison of BMI and mortality. Among women a BMI of 22 to 23.4 and for men a BMI between 23.5 and 24.9 is associated with the lowest risk of mortality.

Mechanism

Having an excess amount of fat is bad for your health in general. Large fat stores that cause you to be overweight or obese lead to many negative health effects such as diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol and cancer. Fat mass that accumulates around your waist may be the worst kind to have, according to the Weight-control Information Network. A woman with a waist measuring greater than 35 inches and a man that has a waist larger than 40 inches, both increase the risk for obesity-related disease.

Limitations

Of course the BMI scale is not perfect and may not work for everyone. Athletes or those with a large amount of lean body mass may still rank as overweight or obese according to the BMI. This is because the BMI takes into consideration only a person's weight and height when calculating fat mass. The scale does not know exactly what your body is made of.

Influencing Your BMI

You can take steps toward improving your BMI and preventing yourself from becoming overweight or obese. The best way is to live a healthy and active lifestyle. Control your diet by balancing your caloric intake with your energy expenditure. Try to get regular exercise that accumulates to about 30 minutes per day. Reducing your weight by just 5 percent, when you are obese, can greatly improve your health.