Body Mass Index BMI
Body mass index (BMI) is measure of body fat based on height and weight that
applies to both adult men and women. BMI does not differentiate between body
fat and muscle mass. Therefore, body builders and people who have a lot of
muscle bulk will have a high BMI but are not overweight.
BMI Calculator
| Underweight Below |
18.5 |
| Normal |
18.5 - 24.9 |
| Overweight |
25.0 - 29.9 |
| Obese |
> 30 |
| Severely Obese |
> 35 |
| Morbidly Obese |
> 40 |
| Super Obese |
> 50 |
Fat predominantly distributed around the waist is also a risk factor for health
complications such as cardiovascular disease and type II diabetes. Fat
predominantly deposited around the hips and buttocks doesn't have this same risk.
Being overweight or underweight can affect your health
If you are overweight (BMI over 25), you may develop:
- Cardiovascular (heart and blood circulation) disease
- Gall bladder disease
- High blood pressure (hypertension)
- Non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus
- Osteoarthritis-this is induced by the excess weight of obesity and can
be a major problem. If inadequately managed it can be a barrier to adequate weight loss.
- Certain types of cancer, i.e. breast, colon, endometrium and prostate.
- Social implications that is often neglected.
If you are underweight
If you are underweight (BMI less than 20), you may develop:
- Malnourishment
- Compromised immune function
- Respiratory disease
- Tuberculosis (an infection of the lung)
- Digestive (stomach) disease
- Cancer
- Osteoporosis.
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