Body Mass Index and Health
What Does Your Body Mass Index Mean For Your Health
Body Mass Index is a method used to determine if you are overweight. It involves comparing your weight to your height by dividing the weight measurement (expressed in kilograms) by the square of the height (expressed in meters). This is also known as your BMI. A BMI of below 18.5 is underweight, between 18.5 and 25 is an indication of healthy weight, 25 to 30 is overweight, a BMI of over 30 is referred to as obese, over 35 is known as morbid obesity, and over 40 indicates extreme obesity.
Your BMI will give you an estimation of the fat content of your body. This is not an exact science as muscle mass will contribute to your weight as well. People with a high muscle mass can have a higher BMI and a lower fat content. Older people may have a lower muscle mass and higher fat content and have a low BMI number.
Here is the importance of keeping your Body Mass Index out of the 25 to 29 or higher range. People with a BMI of 25 to 29 have more heart attacks and strokes. Other problems can include high blood pressure, diabetes, breathing problems and high cholesterol. There are also higher incidences of colon cancer. If your BMI is over 30 these risks can also increase.
Basic changes in what and when you eat are a good place to start. One simple thing is to simply not eat for 3 hours before you sleep. Try and replace sweets with more fruit is another. Go for extra servings of vegetables and put seasoning on them to make them more appealing.
Take a walk after a meal. Even 15 minutes of walking can help you control and start losing weight. Depending on the physical shape you are in you may be able to go to 30 minutes of exercise at a brisk pace 3 or 4 times a week but you should talk this over with your physician first.
Although the BMI is not going to be 100% accurate in determining your health it is a great starting place to motivate you to make some changes in your life if you want to be healthier as you get older.
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