BMI Calculator

Weight Driven Disease Risk Assessment

After reading the first issue of the Innovation Newsletter: "Obesity: A Modern Day Epidemic" complete the following weight-related health risk assessments (BMI, waist circumference). To complete these assessments you will need to know your height, your current weight, and your waist circumference (measure your waist at your navel), and a bit about your personal and familial health histories.

These assessments were designed to help you make educated decisions about your weight and how it affects your health. The advice in these risk assessments applies to most people. But it cannot take into consideration all of the factors that may affect your weight and your health. To get an accurate appraisal of the impact of your weight on your health, talk with your physician.

NOTE:None the information provided here is a substitute for a personalized medical consultation.

Assess Your BMI

BMI (Body Mass Index) is a more valuable measurement of body fat and the health risk factors associated with being over- as well under-weight than is a scale or weight-for-height table. High BMI numbers are associated with higher blood fats, blood sugar, and cholesterol levels; which in turn increase risk of certain diseases, such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes, respiratory problems, and certain cancers. A very low BMI is also associated with a higher risk for health problems.

BMI uses your height and weight values to determine whether you are at risk for weight-related health problems. The healthy range for a BMI is (18.5 -24.9). If you look at the population as a whole, the general rule for determining your optimal BMI is: The lower your BMI is within the healthy range, the lower is your risk of weight-related diseases. However, this general rule doesn't hold true for all individuals. The BMI is not intended for use in measuring weight-related health risks in growing children, frail and sedentary elderly, or women who are pregnant or lactating. The BMI can not accurately determine health risks in competitive athletes and body builders, whose BMIs are typically higher due to increased muscle mass. Genetics also plays a role in determining how muscular or "fleshy" a given individual is. Thus a person with a mesomorphic or endomorphic build may be unhealthfully thin at a BMI of 19.

As you are beginning to see, BMI is a good tool but it is not perfect. Clearly, BMI doesn't tell the whole story. But for most people, here are the BMI classifications, according to the guidelines issued by the National Institute of Health:

NOTE: If your BMI falls outside of the healthy range you should discuss your individual situation with your physician. He or she can help you determine your own personal weight-related health risks and which weight management strategies would improve your health.

If your BMI falls below 18.5...
This is considered underweight. It's recommended that you ask your doctor to assess your BMI and your health in general.

If your BMI falls between 18.5 to 24.9... You're in the healthy range.
This suggests that you don't need to lose weight. You should try to stay within this healthy range and focus on developing or maintaining healthful habits, such as increasing or maintaining regular physical activity and stopping smoking. It is recommended that you reassess your BMI at least every 2 years and talk to your doctor if there are significant changes.

However, if your BMI is at the upper end of this range and you or a blood relative have any of the following medical conditions (high blood pressure, diabetes, high blood cholesterol, high blood triglycerides, joint pain or osteoarthritis, difficulty sleeping or sleep apnea), you should consult your physician.

If your BMI falls between 25 to 29.9
This is considered overweight. But should you lose weight? Possibly, but not necessarily. Most likely, losing weight will lower your risks for weight-related diseases. Particularly if you answer yes to any of the following questions. Do you or a closely related blood-relative have any of the following conditions?High blood pressure, diabetes, high blood cholesterol, high blood triglycerides, joint pain or osteoarthritis, difficulty sleeping or sleep apnea

Measure Your Waist Circumference
BMI alone is not the only way to estimate your weight-driven disease risk. Other factors such as your waist circumference, the pattern in which your body stores fat and your personal and family health history are also important. Most people store their body fat in one of two distinct patterns, around their waist (often called the "apple" shape) or around their hips and thighs (often called the "pear" shape). Research has shown that for most people carrying extra weight around their waist is a greater health risk than is carrying extra weight around their hips or thighs. An individual's degree of overall obesity, however, is still a greater health risk than is his/her distribution of body fat.

Interpreting the results:
Measure your waist at your navel.

If you're an adult male, and your waist circumference more than 40 inches, you have an apple shape and are at an increased risk of weight-related health problems

If you're an adult female and your waist circumference more than 35 inches, you have an apple shape and are at an increased risk of weight-related health problems

If your BMI is 25 or greater, answer the following seven questions to help determine if losing weight will reduce your risk for weight-related disease:

1. Is your BMI within the range 25 to 29.9? A yes answer is worth 1 point.
2. Is your BMI 30 or greater? A yes answer to this question is worth 2 points.
3. Give yourself 1 point for each yes answer to questions 3 through 7.
4. If you have not already done so, measure your waist at your navel.
   If you're an adult male, is your waist circumference more than 40 inches?
   If you're an adult female, is your waist circumference more than 35 inches?
5. Do you have any of the following: high blood pressure, diabetes, joint pain or osteoarthritis, high blood cholesterol, high blood triglycerides, difficulty falling or staying asleep or sleep apnea?
6. Do any of your blood relatives have any of the conditions mentioned in Question 4?
7. Have you gained more than 20 pounds since age 18?
8. Do you perform less than 30 minutes of moderately vigorous physical activities on most days?

CALCULATE YOUR SCORE

See below to understand your relative risk of weight-related disease:

You are in a high-risk group for weight-related diseases such as high blood pressure, disease and diabetes. You can lower your risks if you achieve sustained weight loss.

In addition, you can improve your health by eliminating lifestyle risk factors such as smoking or physical inactivity.

NOTE: If your BMI is greater than 25 and you answered "yes" to Question 4, you are automatically in this high-risk group even if your score is lower than 5 points. You also should work with your doctor to control any of these conditions.

There may be health benefits if you can lose weight and keep it off. This is particularly true if:

• Your BMI is 30 or greater.
• Your waist circumference is greater than 40 inches (for men) or 35 inches (for women).
• Your BMI is within the range of 25 to 29.9 AND you have more than two other risk factors (such as smoking or a family history of weight-related illnesses mentioned in Question 3).

Lifestyle choices also affect risk. For example, if you smoke, you should stop. If you're physically inactive, you should become more active on a regular basis.

If you scored 2 or fewer points

There is probably no health advantage for you to try losing weight. This is particularly true if your BMI falls in the healthy range of 18.5 to 24.9.

If your BMI is 25 to 29.9, you scored 2 or fewer points, and you are over 35 years of age, your most appropriate goal is probably to maintain your weight rather than to try losing weight, as many people have difficulty maintaining their weight loss. You should also improve your overall health habits, for example, if you smoke, stop. If you drink excessively (more than 2 drinks a day for men, more than one drink a day for women) curtail your alcohol consumption. If you are sedentary, get moving.

If you are under 35 years of age, your BMI is 25 to 29.9, and you scored 2 or fewer points you should consider modest weight loss (a 5% to 10% decrease in body weight) followed by a weight maintenance program. People tend to gain weight as they age so limiting your excess body weight at this point may help ward off weight-related diseases in mid and later life.

IMPORTANT NOTE: This score is an approximation of weight-related health risks based on clinical experience and guidelines from the National Institutes of Health. Individual risks may vary. Your physician can help you more fully evaluate your body type, family health history, and personal risk factors.

Remember: Diet and exercise aren't the only ways to improve your health. Lifestyle habits like smoking and excess alcohol intake impact your health as well. If you smoke, you should stop. If you drink more than one to two alcoholic beverages a day, you should limit your intake to a more reasonable level. No more than one drink per day if you are female, and no more than two drinks per day if you are male.