Do you Understand Body Mass Index (BMI)?

When’s the last time you had a checkup? The average American saw their physician 4 times on last year. Women were more likely to visit the doctor than men. However, a remarkable percentage of individuals do not visit the doctor on an annual basis. Because of this, many remain unaware of critical, personal health components that could help them live healthier lives day to day.

One of these important indicators is known as Body Mass Index, or BMI. Do you know what yours is? Read on to learn what BMI is and how it should be important to you.

What is BMI?

Body Mass Index is a calculation that takes an individual’s weight in kilograms and divides it by their height in meters. A common misconception with BMI is that it is supposed to reveal body fat percentage. However, the true intention of BMI is for it to be an easy method of screening for weight category.

The outputted number places the individual in an underweight, normal, healthy, overweight, or obese category. Depending on which category they fall in, BMI may be a helpful indicator as to the amount of body fat a person is carrying.

Why is BMI important?

As a screening tool, BMI can help health practitioners identify whether or not patients may be at risk for debilitating medical conditions such as high blood pressure, Type 2 Diabetes, heart disease, sleep apnea, and clinical depression.

Another reason why knowing your BMI is helpful is that it provides you with a snapshot of your current wellness. When you know you are in an ideal category, you can maintain your daily habits knowing you’re on the right track. If you are at risk, now you have the knowledge that will help empower you to make better choices when it comes to your diet and overall level of activity.

Food for thought…

Sometimes individuals with a high BMI aren’t overweight or obese. People who are naturally large or athletes who have developed increased muscularity over time may fall into the “obese” category. If you’re unsure about your own BMI and the implications it can have for your overall health, contact Be Well 365 today to set up an appointment.

:Sources:

http://www.webmd.com/diet/how-accurate-body-mass-index-bmi

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Body_mass_index