gethealthy

Many health professionals adhere to the BMI (Body Mass Index), which is a ratio between height and weight.  It is often used to determine if a person is underweight, normal, overweight, obese, or  clinically obese.

Unfortunately it seems that many health professionals rely on this as the only means of determining a person’s health risks.

BMI calculations do not take muscle mass or skeletal structure into consideration, which can result in a misleading diagnosis.

Often many large people feel let down by this calculation.  We are often made to feel like  our efforts toward being healthy are discounted due  to our outward appearance matched with our BMI.

While, it is true that carrying excess weight can put you at a higher risk for developing life altering conditions or diseases.  Conditions such as diabetes and heart disease often progress due to increased fat on the body.

However, other factors should be measured to properly access a person’s risk of developing health conditions.  Other means of determing a person’s level of health are: age,blood pressure, cholesterol levels, family history, waist measurement, fitness level, and diet.

Here is how BMI is calculated:

Weight in lbs./ height in inches squared X 703.

example: 150lbs/ 5′5″ squared (66″ squared) multiplied by 703 = 24.96

Here is the standard chart for determining BMI

Below 18.5                               Underweight

18.5 - 24.9                                Normal

25.0 - 29.9                                Overweight

30.0 - above                             Obese

Age: 45 or older = increased risk of diabetes, women age 55 = increased risk for heart disease, and the risk of cancer also increases with age.

A healthy blood pressure reading should be about 110/70.

Hypertension begins at 120/80 - 139/89.

Total Cholesterol above 200mg/dl, HDL of 40mg/dl or more,  or triglyceride levels of  150mg or more increases the risk of disease.

Family History Factors:

Heart Disease: First degree relatives (parents, siblings, and children) if they have it…your risk increases.

Diabetes: Type 2 Diabetes - first degree relatives - your risk increases by 5-10 times, regardless of weight.

Cancer: 5-10% of cancers are inherited, most cancers are caused by gene mutation caused by age, lifestyle, and environmental factors.  The environmental factors include: inactivity, smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, exposure to radiation or carcinogenic materials.  However, a recent study found that 5% of cancer in post menopausal women is related to carrying excess body weight.

Waist Measurement:

Women: 35″ or more = increased risk of heart disease, and 31.5″ = increased risk of some cancers.

Fitness: Walking briskly for 30 minutes 5 days a week is enough to protect you from disease regardless of your diet.

Diet:  A well-balanced diet rich in omega-3 fatty acids, fruits, vegetables, and whole grains can dramatically effect your chance of developing diseases or conditions.

So the question is….is it possible to have a high BMI and still be healthy.  The answer is yes.  However, it depends on other health assessment factors to determine your overall risk of developing diseases or conditions.