BMI (BODY MASS INDEX

How the BMI works and why it's important (BMI)

A person's total body fat content may be determined by calculating their BMI (body mass index). As a result, the BMI is also referred to as the Adolphe Quetelet index, in honor of the Belgian mathematician's invention of the BMI in the 1800s. Calculating the BMI is done by dividing your weight (kg) by your height (m2) (m2). Kg/m2 is the unit of measurement.

What is the purpose of BMI?

The BMI is a simple and affordable screening tool for adults and children that can uncover potential weight issues. BMI is a great tool for determining who requires additional testing to rule out serious health issues like heart disease. Individuals who may be in danger should be evaluated further. Skin fold thickness, nutrition, physical activity, family history, and other suitable health checks may be included in the evaluation process.

Excessive body mass index

BMI

A BMI of 25 or more and a BMI below 18.5 might negatively impact your health.

Overweight

Fat people have a higher mortality rate than those within a healthy weight range. A rise in BMI is associated with an increase in illness risk. As a result, those with a BMI of 25 to 29.9 may also be deemed overweight, which raises their risk of illness. Obesity stages 2 and 3 (BMI 35-39.9 and 40) respectively have a moderate risk of disease, escalating to severe and very severe risk at these levels.

A person's BMI isn't the only factor that determines risk. Additionally, an individual's risk of disease is influenced by what they eat, how much they exercise, and whether or not they have a family history of the disease. Overweight and obese people, on the other hand, have a higher risk of several ailments.

They have a far higher chance of:

Diabetic Type 2 (T2D)

illness of the gallbladder;

Hypertension;

Dyslipidaemia;

Resistant to Insulin

Atherosclerosis;

Abrupt cessation of breathing during sleep

Breathlessness

Asthma;

Depression as a result of social exclusion;

Anxiety and drowsiness persist throughout the day.

They are slightly more likely to suffer from:

stroke and heart attack are examples of cardiovascular illnesses.

Hyperuricaemia and gout

Osteoarthritis;

Diseases of the lungs;

Hernia;

Psychiatric issues.having a slightly higher chance of the breast, colon, and endometrial types of cancer Deficiencies in reproduction The inability to have children;

syndrome of polycystic ovaries;

Complications of the skin;

Cataract;

Venous insufficiency;

Ailments of the joints and muscles

A sore back;

a condition is known as stress incontinence

Edema/cellulitis.

Underweight

Those that are underweight may be suffering from malnutrition. In addition, they are more likely to suffer from health issues such as:

Increased vulnerability to infections as a result of compromised immune function

Anemia;

Osteoporosis;

Inconsistencies in the menstrual cycle;

Fertility is hampered.

Are there any drawbacks to using the BMI?

BMI-related limitations include:

Age, gender, and race all affect BMI. For this reason, it is only possible to compare BMI between people of the same gender, age, and race.

As a result, the BMI will underestimate in some people and overestimate in others since it does not discriminate between muscle and fat (e.g., An athlete may have a high BMI because of a greater amount of power rather than fat).

The BMI of disabled or elderly persons is lower because they have less muscle mass. This does not imply, however, that they are overweight or obese.

Pregnant women will have a higher BMI than non-pregnant women for various reasons, not the least of which is an increase in body fat. In this situation, BMI will overstate fat mass. Therefore, pre-pregnancy BMI and weight increase during pregnancy should evaluate a woman's weight and the need for exercise and dietary treatments.

The BMI does not distinguish between different types of fat in the body. However, the BMI does not account that belly fat is more harmful than hip fat (if you have a "pear" body shape).

Other physical measurements, such as blood pressure and waist circumference, may be necessary for determining the health risks associated with obesity.