The effects of an excessively high body mass index seem to receive the most attention by both private individuals and health professionals. This is particularly the case for people whose BMI is so high as to indicate potential obesity. It is less well known, however, that an excessively low BMI can also be an indicator of potentially serious health problems.
BMI Definition
BMI is short for body mass index. It is designed to be a gauge of your overall weight and health -- not by any means a perfect gauge, but, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, it is "a fairly reliable indicator of body fatness for most people." BMI is determined by your weight and your height; to calculate, divide your weight in pounds by your height in inches times your height in inches, then multiply that total by 703.
Healthy BMI
According to EatRight.org, operated by the American Dietetic Associaton, a body mass index below 18.5 is considered excessively low; a BMI between 18.5 and 24.9 is normal; a BMI between 25.0 and 29.9 is considered overweight; and a BMI over 30.0 is considered obese.
Low BMI Symptoms
According to the American Diabetes Association, individuals with heart problems who have a BMI below 22.5 are at a 70 percent higher risk of death due to heart failure -- that is an even greater increase in risk than for people with heart problems who have an excessively high BMI. According to the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, an excessively low BMI can also indicate an increased risk for such other health conditions as respiratory disease or cancer.
Low BMI Treatment
One of the simplest and most obvious methods of treating a low body mass index is to increase your daily caloric intake -- in layman's terms, to eat more. However, this does not mean that you should merely pig out on greasy, sugary or salty foods. The calories that you consume should still primarily be ones that are high in nutrients like protein, fiber, vitamins and minerals.
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