Body mass index, or BMI, has become a short-hand way for doctors, nutritionists and trainers to determine how overweight you are. It is a handy bit of math that looks at your height compared to your weight and determines whether you are outside the bounds of what science has found healthy. A high BMI comes with many chronic and debilitating diseases that can disappear with modest weight loss. If you find your BMI is on the high side, consult with your doctor about a plan to drop some pounds.
BMI Explained
BMI attempts to accurately measure the amount of body fat a person carries without extensive and expensive methods such as underwater weighing or skinfold thickness measurement. BMI takes into account your height and your weight, and it comes close to determining your relative body mass. However, it does have some limitations. For instance, at the same BMI, women have more body fat than men, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. At the same BMI, older people have more body fat than younger, and less active people have more body fat than active people at the same BMI. Other factors, such as waist circumference and other disease indicators, also need to be considered when assessing your BMI and overall health.
Pathophysiology of High BMI
The consequences of a high BMI can lead to various disease states. A high BMI is associated with fat deposits around the major organs, an increase in cholesterol and gallbladder disease, according to "The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition." High cholesterol leads to clogged arteries and an increased risk of heart attack. Too much weight also leads to excess insulin and eventual pancreatic failure, which leads to type 2 diabetes. Just carrying excess weight predisposes you to sudden death, a dilated and failing heart, sleep apnea, dysfunction of the sex hormones testosterone and estrogen, darkening of the skin folds and arthritis in the weight bearing joints.
Calculate Your BMI
To find your own BMI, first find your height in inches. Then, multiply it by itself. For instance, if you are 5 feet 3 inches, you would take 63 times 63 to get 189. Divide your weight in pounds by this number, then multiply by 703 to get your BMI. If your BMI is below 18.5, you are considered underweight. If it is 18.5 to 24.9, your BMI is considered normal and no weight loss is necessary. If your number is 25 to 29.9, then you are considered overweight. If you have risk factors, such as high blood pressure or elevated cholesterol, weight loss is recommended. If your number is over 30, you are considered obese, and weight loss is necessary to reduce your risk for disease.
If math isn't your thing, it's easy to find a BMI calculator online.
Waist Circumference
Another tool that helps to complement the BMI scale is the waist circumference measurement. Use a flexible tape measure to get your measurement. To find your waist circumference, measure around your waist just above the hipbones as you breathe out, according to the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute. If your waist is greater than 35 inches for women or 40 inches for men, you are at increased risk for heart disease and type 2 diabetes.
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