BMI (Body Mass Index)

One of the significant changes in recent years, in the way weight is monitored, is the increasing use of the BMI or Body Mass Index. The article below briefly introduces you to BMI.

What Is Your BMI?

There are several different ways that a doctor may use to measure your need to lose weight. Old fashioned weight charts are largely a thing of the past. The most commonly used measure nowdays is BMI (or Body Mass Index). The BMI measures your weight relative to your height. It is a fairly accurate representation of muscle:fat ratio, though there are some limitations to the index:

1. The BMI of an athletic person may be over estimated, because muscle is denser and weighs more than fat.

2. The BMI of an older person may be an underestimate because of less muscle. The same applies to others who have low muscle mass.

You can choose from many BMI calculators available online. These will allow you to check your own BMI.

BMI Table

The table for determining risk factors associated with obesity is:

Below 18.5 then you are: Underweight

18.5 - 24.9 then you are: Normal

25.0 - 29.9 then you are: Overweight

30.0 and up then you are: Obese

If your BMI is above 25.0, your doctor or other medical professional can advise you on the best weight loss plan for you. You should know that there are great benefits to losing even a moderate amount of weight.

Benefits of Losing Weight

1. Lowering the risk of diabetes. According to the American Diabetes Association, a weight loss of as little as 10 pounds can decrease the chances of pre-diabetes developing into diabetes by 58%.

2. Lower the risk of heart disease. The American Heart Association states that coronary problems are directly correlated to weight. By losing weight to bring your BMI to within normal ranges, you significantly lower your risk of developing heart problems.

3. Reduce the risk of arthritis and pain from arthritis. A number of forms of arthritis are related to weight. Losing weight substantially decreases the strain that additional weight places you your knees, hip joints, back and ankles.

Three Ways To Get Started Losing Weight

If you think you have the motivation to lose weight, here are three simple ways that you can start losing weight today:

1. Become more active.

If you do nothing different in your life but exercise for an extra half hour daily, you will lose between 5 and 7% of your body weight after a year.

2. Stop eating white breads and sugars.

Substitute whole grains for refined flours and sugars. This will automatically reduce the number of calories you consume every day.

3. Eat more fresh vegetables.

Fresh vegetables, especially raw vegetables, are a good source of many of the vitamins and minerals that your body needs daily. They are high in nutrition, but low in calories. By increasing the amount of fresh vegetables that you eat, and reducing the amount of processed, refined foods, you will reduce your calorie and carbohydrate intake by a significant level.