BMI Calculator: Can it aid you in reducing your risk for certain health problems?

         BMI Calculator: How can it benefit you?

BMI Calculator: Why watching your weight is a good way to monitor your health risks.

Why are doctors so conscious about the weight of their patients these days? Well, simply put, weight is, in a way, a risk indicator. If you had a way to reduce your risk of developing health problems like cancer, diabetes and heart disease, would you take steps to do so? Well, luckily there is something you can do to lessen your health risks in certain areas: Watch your BMI.

BMI Calculator: What is it?

BMI stands for Body Mass Index. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, BMI is a “number calculated from a person’s weight and height. BMI provides a reliable indicator of body fatness for most people and is used to screen for weight categories that may lead to health problems.” According to their categories, a BMI below 18.5 falls into the category of underweight. Normal is between 18.5 and 24.9. Anyone with a BMI of greater than 25 would be classified as overweight and anyone with a BMI of over 30 would be classified as obese.

The CDC cites information from the World Health Organization stating that the ranges are based on the “relationship between body weight and disease and death”. The CDC, referring to Clinical Guidelines on Identification, Evaluation, and Treatment of Overweight and Obesity in Adults, also states that being in the overweight category statistically puts you at an increased risk for many diseases and health conditions; so it is, in a way, a predictor of whether your weight could potentially affect your health.

BMI Calculator: Easy to use

BMI Calculators are easy to use. It is simply a matter of entering your height and weight into a chart. Visit the CDC website to see if your weight could potentially predispose you to health problems.
Although there is a lot of talk about the BMI Calculator these days, the CDC also states that it is only one factor related to risk for disease. The National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute also recommends looking at waist circumference and other risk factors such as high blood pressure and inactivity, reminds the CDC.
 
Always consult your doctor before beginning a new exercise program, especially if you are overweight. If this is not possible, try a moderately easy exercise, such as walking.

Tip of the Week:
Never eat more than one plate of food at a meal so your body will become accustomed to eating a healthy amount of food... even if it takes some time, your body will eventually adjust.
          
For More Information:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention