BMI, or body mass index, is simply a ratio between your height and weight. Knowing your BMI, you can easily assess whether your height and weight are in a healthy proportion or not.

If your BMI is above or below the normal range, it makes you prone to various health risks, including diabetes, high blood pressure, cardiovascular issues, and musculoskeletal conditions. Thus, it is of paramount importance that you pay attention to your BMI and try to maintain it as much as you can to enjoy better physical as well as mental health.

How to Calculate Your BMI?

You can easily find your BMI by dividing your weight in Kg by the square of your height in meters. The normal value of BMI is considered to be between 18.5 and 25. If your BMI is less than this range, you are considered underweight. On the other hand, if it is between 25 and 30 you are classified as overweight. You are considered obese if your BMI exceeds 30.

Does BMI Give an Accurate Assessment of Your Health?

Though BMI is a pretty good measure of your physical health and it can actually help you and your doctor devise a better strategy for your weight improvement, its results are not always accurate.

The calculation of BMI does not account for age, pregnancy, and other chronic health conditions one might suffer from. It also doesn’t provide any information about your current health, lifestyle, and family history.

Nonetheless, BMI does help your doctor quickly determine possible health risks that may affect you in case you are overweight or underweight. 

What Does Your BMI Actually Mean?

You might remember using charts where you had to move your hand on a column to the left side to find your height and then slide it to the right to find your ideal weight. Well, BMI is just an improved version of that where you don’t even need a chart to know what your weight should be based on your height. 

BMI shows the relationship between your weight and height in the form of a single number which you can compare with accepted standards to see where you stand physically.

Your BMI shows how you should look physically in terms of weight by taking into account your height. It gives you a simple way to assess whether you need to gain or lose weight to improve your overall physical health.

The Importance of Your BMI

Your BMI is much more important than you give it credit for. If your BMI is greater than 30 or less than 18, you might need some guidance as to how you can maintain a healthy body. Your doctor can devise possible healthcare options for you based on this number.

If for example, you plan on taking some weight loss medication, your doctor can first measure your BMI to decide the dosage. Surgeons can also use this number to decide whether you need to undergo bariatric treatment or not. This treatment is usually recommended for people who have a BMI between 30 and 40 or above.

Relationship Between Diabetes and BMI

There is sufficient research to support the fact that an increasing BMI is directly related to type 2 diabetes. A study was done in the US in 2014 that involved about 12000 individuals. The results showed that people with a BMI between 25 to 29 had a 50% higher chance of developing type 2 diabetes than people who had a BMI in the range of 18.5 to 24.9.

They also found that people with BMI between 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, and 40+ were 2, 2.5, 3.6, and 5.1 times more likely to develop diabetes respectively.

Health Risks Associated with Abnormal BMI

High BMI not only leads to diabetes in most cases but it can also lead to heart diseases, bone and joint issues, osteoarthritis, and various forms of cancer including endometrial, breast, and lung cancer.

It has also been found that increased BMI can lead to hypertension, high blood pressure, and dyslipidemia as well. All these health risks can be avoided if you know your BMI and take the necessary steps to maintain it. 

BMI and Weight Loss Programs

Many physicians consider BMI to be an important indicator that shows you need to work on your weight loss. Based on your BMI your doctor can recommend you a diet plan, exercise routine, and some weight loss medication to speed up the process.

In order to achieve the best results faster, your health team can take into account your BMI when considering your treatment options. They can also use this information to guide you about the diet you should follow.

For example, if you are excessively overweight, your doctor can factor in your BMI while calculating the number of calories you are allowed to take in a day. Thus, you can effectively manage your weight if you know what your BMI is.

Bariatric Surgery and BMI

If your BMI is over 35 or it is over 30 along with diabetes type 2, you might need to undergo Bariatric surgery. People from certain regions of Asia who have been diagnosed with diabetes and also have a BMI slightly lower than 30 can also undergo this weight loss procedure.

Apart from BMI, many doctors also look at factors like the effect of your weight on your body movements, your mental health, and your medical history before recommending this surgery.

Conclusion

BMI is a useful starting point for predicting possible health risks that are associated with obesity. However, it is not wise to consider this factor alone when measuring the health and fitness of a person. Knowing your BMI allows you to carefully plan your diet to meet your weight goals and change your lifestyle for the better. 

So, keep track of your BMI to make sure your body stays fit and you are free from potential health risks by managing your weight properly.

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