Obesity means you are carrying too much body fat. Factors that determine obesity include genetics, overeating, indulging in fatty foods and inactivity. Health care professionals use body mass index, or BMI, as a measurement to determine whether you should be considered obese. In essence, BMI is computed by calculating your height-to-weight ratio.
What is BMI?
A BMI of between 18.5 and 24.9 is within a normal weight range. A BMI between 25 and 29.9 is considered overweight. You are considered obese if your BMI is more than 30. Morbid obesity is any BMI over 35. For example, if you are 5-foot-5 and weigh 180 lbs., your BMI is 30; therefore, you are considered obese. You need to lose more than 31 pounds to get within a healthy weight range.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention uses BMI to measure obesity because it is inexpensive and a quick and easy way for doctors and the general public to use. The CDC utilizes BMI to do an assessment of overweight and obese populations.
Risks of Obesity
A BMI of 30 or more means you risk developing obesity-related health conditions like type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, arthritis, hypertension, osteoarthritis, sleep apnea, respiratory conditions, cancers, gallbladder disease and cholesterol-related vascular diseases. Health care providers outline diet and exercise programs based on this number to help obese patients lose weight and reduce their risks of developing health problems.
Drawbacks of BMI
The BMI only measures height-to-weight ratio to determine obesity. The number does not compensate for your fat-to-muscle ratio. Because of this, you may fall into the overweight or obese category if you are exceptionally athletic and fit. An all-around picture of obesity combines BMI with other assessments. The National Heart Lung and Blood Institute Obesity Education Initiative website says a waist circumference is a better indicator of risks for heart disease and other health conditions. In general, women with waistlines of 35 inches or more and men with waistlines of 40 or more increase their risks of obesity-related diseases.
Children and Teens
BMI measures obesity in children and teens as well. Doctors don't use the same criteria they use for adults. The CDC website says BMI for children and teens has an age and sex component because girls and boys have different body fat percentages and weight fluctuations at different developmental periods. Adult BMI is not gender based, so the standard chart applies to both sexes. Doctors don't recommend diets for children and teens unless your child's health is in danger.
Combating Obesity
Doctors recommend different methods for you to reduce your BMI and combat obesity-related health conditions. According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine website, losing as little as five to 10 percent of your weight can generally reduce or prevent some obesity-related, life-threatening health conditions. The first obesity treatment recommended by doctors includes dietary changes and exercise. Health care professionals use diet supplements in rare cases. The last-resort option for weight loss treatment is bariatric surgery, a treatment reserved for morbidly obese patients.
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