BMI and Your Health
I have a 30+ BMI – what does it mean for me? The first step to understanding what this means is understanding what BMI is. BMI stands for Body Mass Index. According to Medical News Today, BMI is a numeric indicator based off of height and weight that is a general way to determine whether or not a person is at a healthy body weight. When you go to the doctor, they should calculate your BMI for you, but you can do it yourself if you want to!
How to Calculate Your BMI
The formula for BMI is BMI = lbs x 703/in2. This formula should give you a two digit number that you can plug into a chart that tells you what category you fall into. The American Cancer Society has a detailed chart, as does Medical News Today. Ideally, your BMI should fall between 18.5 and 24.9. Anything below that is considered underweight and anything above is considered overweight or obese.
Obese BMI Health Risks
To be considered obese, a person must have a BMI of 30 or more. This indicates that you may be at serious risk due to being heavily overweight. One of the biggest issues that can arise from being severely overweight is excess strain on the heart. Heart disease, high blood pressure and and sleep apnea are all common when the heart cannot perform its function fully. Other effects that can be an issue for people with a BMI over 30 are diabetes, osteoarthritis, strokes, and even some types of cancer. This means that your high BMI could cause you to have to take insulin every day, wear a CPAP mask every night, or live the rest of your life with problems speaking, breathing, and moving.
As these symptoms are all incredibly dangerous, it is very important to that people avoid having overweight or obese BMI’s. Particularly people within the obese range should be conscious of putting themselves on the right track to health. Banner Health provides an “ideal weight chart” that can give clear goals for someone looking to improve their health through weight loss.
Tips to Help You Lower your BMI
Although a very high BMI is discouraging, there is still hope! It may be a difficult road, but there is a path to healing. Here are a few ways to lose excess weight and reach a healthy BMI.
1. Reduce Sugar Intake
The first tip is to cut down on sugar. We all know that the sweetest things can end up being the most deceptive, and sugar is no exception. Although our bodies crave it, it actually does a lot of harm. Cutting out the sodas, sugary coffees, and dessert can make a huge impact.
2. Eat Healthier
The second tip is to increase your intake of good whole foods. Most people seem to believe that quantity of food is what matters in weight loss, but it is actually quality. Eating more leafy greens and protein while eating less sugar and junk will make you feel better and lose weight.
3. Move At Least Once a Day
The last tip is to move your body. Schedules are so hard to work with. It’s difficult to find an hour or two for the gym, but getting out and burning calories is a huge part of losing weight. Even if it’s just an evening walk it helps build a healthier lifestyle that turns into a healthier life.
Make Lifestyle Changes to Reduce BMI
All in all, it really pays off to avoid the health risks associated with a very high BMI. BMI is not the one-stop shop to determine whether or not you are healthy, as demonstrated by athletes who have a high BMI due to muscle/fat ratio. However, making healthy changes to reduce your BMI can literally save your life. Following these steps is not a complete solution, but it is a good place to start on the path to a happier, healthier life.
– Normal weight ranges: Body mass index (BMI)
– Ideal Weight Chart
https://www.bannerhealth.com/staying-well/health-and-wellness/fitness-nutrition/ideal-weight
– Measuring BMI for adults, children, and teens
BMI and Your Health
I have a 30+ BMI – what does it mean for me? The first step to understanding what this means is understanding what BMI is. BMI stands for Body Mass Index. According to Medical News Today, BMI is a numeric indicator based off of height and weight that is a general way to determine whether or not a person is at a healthy body weight. When you go to the doctor, they should calculate your BMI for you, but you can do it yourself if you want to!
The formula for BMI is BMI = lbs x 703/in2. This formula should give you a two digit number that you can plug into a chart that tells you what category you fall into. The American
