Health & Fitness – What is BMI and Why is BMI Important?

BMI stands for Body Mass Index. This is a calculation using your height and weight. You can easily determine your BMI on various fitness websites.
BMI is a standard tool used in the fitness and health industry to determine if you are at a greater risk for health problems.
For adults (male and female) the BMI normal range is 18-25.
People with a higher percentage of body fat, tend to have a higher BMI, except for body builders.

Exceptions to BMI?

BMI is a better predictor of disease risk than body weight. However, there are certain people who should not use BMI as the basis for determining relative disease risk: competitive athletes and body builders, whose BMI is high due to a relatively larger amount of muscle, and women who are pregnant or lactating.

Why is BMI important?

If your BMI is high, you may have an increased risk of developing certain diseases including but not limited to:
-high blood pressure
-heart disease
-high cholesterol and blood lipids (LDL)
-Type 2 Diabetes
-sleep apnea
-osteoarthritis
-female infertility
-acid reflux or GERD
-urinary stress incontinence

What should my BMI be?

For Adults

Normal BMI 18.5 – 24.9
Underweight BMI < 18.5
Overweight BMI 25 – 29.9
Obesity BMI 30 – 39.9
Extreme Obesity BMI > 40

How can I improve my BMI?

Weight loss will reduce your BMI and improve your overall health.
Even a 10% reduction from your current weight will make a difference to your health. For instance, a 5’2” female who weighs 150 pounds (BMI=27), can improve her health by losing as little as twelve pounds, reducing her BMI to 25.

Remember These Tips:
Set Realistic Goals

The best way to lose weight and keep it off is to balance the foods you eat with daily physical activity.
Losing more than 1 to 2 pounds per week is unhealthy and greatly decreases the likelihood of keeping it off.

Magic Pills and Potions:

There are none.

For more information, please contact your doctor, a dietician or personal fitness trainer.
By: Janet Hunt
Janet Hunt is a Certified Personal Trainer and can be reached at 256-614-3530 to schedule an appointment.