Why are BMIs useful ?

Why are BMIs useful?

BMI is a BMI is an easy, low-cost screening tool utilized to determine the possibility of issues with weight for adults as well as children. A BMI estimation is useful to assess who needs more testing to discover health risks such as heart disease. People who are at risk require more evaluation. Tests can include tests for the thickness of skin folds food, diet, exercise level, family history and other necessary health screenings.

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Risks related to BMIs that are extreme

BMIBeing either overweight (with an BMI over 25) or being underweight (with an BMI lower than 18.5) can affect your health.

Overweight

Individuals who are overweight or obese face a higher chance of developing diseases than those who are in an appropriate weight category. The risk of disease increases when you increase your BMI. The people who are classified as overweight (BMI 25-29.9) might also be classified as pre-obese and more likely to develop disease. In the category 1 of obesity (BMI 30-34.9) it is considered to be moderate chance of developing disease. The risk of getting sick increases to severe and very serious risks at stages 2 of obesity (BMI 35-39.9) in 3 (BMI >40) and 3 (BMI >=40).

It is crucial to remember that BMI doesn't determine risk by itself. Other aspects like what people eat, how frequently they exercise, and whether or not they have any medical history within their family can affect the risk of a person developing disease. But as a group the obese and overweight have a higher risk of numerous diseases.

They have a greatly increased likelihood of:

  • Type 2 Diabetes;
  • Gall bladder disease;
  • Hypertension;
  • Dyslipidaemia;
  • Insulin Resistance;
  • Atherosclerosis;
  • Sleep apnoea
  • Breathlessness
  • Asthma;
  • Depression and social isolation;
  • The fatigue and sleepiness of the day.

They have a moderately elevated likelihood of:

  • Cardiovascular diseases (i.e. stroke, heart attack);
  • Gout /hyperuricaemia;
  • Osteoarthritis;
  • Respiratory disease;
  • Hernia;
  • Psychological issues.

They may be at risk of: chance of:

  • There are various forms of cancer (breast colon, endometrial and breast cancers);
  • Reproductive abnormalities;
  • Unhealthy fertility;
  • Polycystic ovarian syndrome
  • Skin issues;
  • Cataract;
  • Varicose veins;
  • Musculskeletal problems;
  • Bad back
  • Incontinence due to stress;
  • Oedema/cellulitis.

Underweight

Underweight people may be malnourished. In addition they have an increased risk of developing health problems including:

  • Affected immune system, with an increase in susceptibility to infections
  • Anaemia;
  • Osteoporosis;
  • Menstrual irregularities;
  • Affected fertility.


What are the limits of the BMI?

BMILimitations associated with BMI. BMI are:

  • BMI is different based on age, gender, and race. So, a person's BMI cannot be compared with that of the same sex, age and race.
  • BMI doesn't distinguish between muscle and fat and can therefore underestimate in some and overestimate for others (e.g. An athlete could have an elevated BMI because of the higher amount of muscle, rather than fat).
  • The elderly or disabled have less muscle mass , and therefore will have lower BMI. It does not mean that their weight is normal or not enough.
  • Pregnant women also will have a higher BMI due to the weight gain that is associated with pregnancy, however, not necessarily due to increased fat. BMI will underestimate body fat in this case. Pre-pregnancy BMI and weight increase during pregnancy must be used in assessing a woman's weight and the necessity for nutritional and exercise interventions.
  • BMI does not differentiate between body fat distribution. Fat that is located around the waist ("apple" form) is more risky than fat around the hips ("pear" body shape) however, this is not considered by the BMI.

Consult your healthcare giver for other physical measurements that may have to be considered along with BMI to assess health risks caused by obesity.


Other indicators of obesity


Table 2 Other ways to measure obesity

Measure Description
Waist circumference Waist circumference (WC) is a good indicator of abdominal fat and is a good indicator of the risk of health problems. It's measured by placing an untight tape measure at the narrowest point of your waist, over the top of your light or even no clothing.For men:> 94 centimeters (37 inch) higher risk> 102 cm (40 inch) significantly increased risk women:> 80 cm ( 31 inches) Risk increase to an 88 cm (35 inch) A significantly higher risk also varies based on ethnicity and health risks are more severe with lower WC in certain ethnic groups like Aboriginal, Pacific Islander, South Asian, Chinese and Japanese populations.
The hip circumference Hip circumference (HC) is determined by placing a piece of tape over the widest part of your hip , layered over only a small amount of clothes. HC isn't useful by itself, but typically it is used to calculate an equivalent ratio to WC as mentioned previously mentioned.
Hip-waist ratio Waist to hip ratio (WHR) is the ratio of your waist circumference to your hip circumference. For females the normal WHR is about 0.80 however for men it's 0.95.
Waist-height ratio Waist-to-height ratio is the proportion of your waist circumference to height.

More information

More information on nutrition, which includes information about the types of food and their composition in relation to nutrition and people with health issues as well as diets and recipes along with helpful videos and tools to help you, check out Nutrition.
For more information on weight loss, medical and social problems, as well as methods of losing weight and other useful tools, check out Weight Loss.

References

  1. National Health and Medical Research Council. Clinical Management Guidelines for the management of obesity and excess weight in adults, adolescents and children in Australia. 2013. [cited 14 April 2014]. Available from [URL Link]
  2. Centre for Disease Control and Prevention. About BMI for Adults. 2011. [cited April 14th, 2014.] Accessible from: [ URL Link]
  3. Keys A, Findanza F, KarvonenMJ, et al. Indices of weight relative and obesity. J Chron Dis. 1972; 25: 329-43. [Abstract]
  4. Goh LGH, Dhaliwal SS, Welborn TA, et al. Anthropometric measures of central and general overweight and the prediction the risk of developing cardiovascular disease in women: a cross-sectional research study. BMJ Open. 2014: 4; e004138 doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2013-004138 [Full Text]
  5. Snijder MB, van Dam RM, Visser M, Seidell JC. What aspects of body fat are especially dangerous and how do we know? Int. J. Epidemiol. 2006;35(1):83-92. [Full Text]
  6. Gill T, Chittleborough C, Taylor A, Ruffin R, Wilson D. Body mass index the waist hip ratio the waist circumference, and hip ratio: the three is the best way to measure overweight. Int J Public Health. 2003;48(3):191-200. [Full Text]
  7. Pouliot M, Despers J Lemieux S Moorjan S. Waist circumference and abdominal sagital size: the best basic anthropometric measures of the accumulation of abdominal visceral adipose tissue and the associated cardiovascular risk for men and women. Am J Cardiol. 1994; 73(7): 460-8. [Abstract]
  8. Schneider J, Glaesmer H, etal. Accuracy of the anthropometric indicators for overweight to predict cardiovascular risk. J Clin Endocrinol. 2007; 92(2): 589-594. 2005; 92(2): 589-594. Full text]
  9. Kunesova M, Hainer V, Hergetova H, Zak A. Simple anthropometric measures - relationship to visceral fat tissue and risk factors of atherogenesis. SB Lek. 1995; 96(3): 257-67. [Abstract]
  10. Seidell JC, Perusse L, Despres J-P, Bouchard C. Waist and hip circumferences have distinct and opposing effects on cardiovascular risk factors. The Quebec Family Study. Am J Clin Nutr 2001; 74(3): 315-321. [ Full Text]
  11. Mukuddem-Petersen J, Snijder MB, et al. Sagittal abdominal diameter: not an benefit over other anthropometric measures to be a correlate of components of the metabolic syndrome in older adults from the Hoorn Study. Am J Clin Nutr. 2006; 84(5): 995-1002. [Abstract]
  12. Lean Mo. Waist circumference as a marker for indicating need for weight management. BMJ 1995;311:158-161. [Full Text]
  13. Esmailzadeh A, Mirmiran P, Azizi F. The waist-hip ratio is an ideal screening test for risk factors in the cardiovascular system over other anthropometric indicators Tehranian adult men. Int J Obesity 2004; 28: 1325-1332. [Ab`stract]
  14. Australian Government Department of Health. About Overweight and Obesity. 2009. [cited as 14 April 2014] Retrieved at: URL Link]
  15. NHS Choices. Underweight Adults. 2012. [cited 14 April 2014]. Available at:

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