Earlier, people relied on simple height/weight charts to determine their recommended body weight, but these tables could be highly inaccurate and fail to identify critical fat values associated with higher risk of disease. The most common technique to determine thinness and excessive fatness is the body mass index (BMI). BMI is a number calculated by using the following formulae:
For weight in pounds, BMI could be calculated by:
Data from several studies suggest that morbidity and mortality for cardiovascular diseases increases with increase in BMI (Figure 1 and Table 1). A higher BMI (>25) is associated with increased risk of morbidity and mortality especially for coronary heart diseases. Although a BMI between 18.5 and 25 is considered normal, the lowest risk for chronic disease is between 22 to 25 ranges. Individuals are classified as overweight if their index lies between 25 and 30. A BMI above 30 is defined as obese, and one below 18.5 is considered underweight.
Figure 1: Association of morbidity and mortality with BMI
Table 1: Risk of diseases and BMI
Generally, BMI is a useful screening tool. However, one of the major disadvantages associated with BMI is that it fails to differentiate fat from lean body mass or establish the location of most fats. In such situations, waist circumference could serve as a beneficial tool to measure the location of fat.
Earlier, people relied on simple height/weight charts to determine their recommended body weight, but these tables could be highly inaccurate and fail to identify critical fat values associated with higher risk of disease. The most common technique to determine thinness and excessive fatness is the body mass index (BMI). BMI is a number calculated by using the following formulae:
For weight in pounds, BMI could be calculated by:
Data from several studies suggest that morbidity and mortality for cardiovascular diseases increases with increase in BMI (Figure 1 and Table 1). A higher BMI (>25) is associated with increased risk of morbidity and mortality especially for coronary heart diseases. Although a BMI between 18.5 and 25 is considered normal, the lowest risk for chronic disease is between 22 to 25 ranges. Individuals are classified as overweight if their index lies between 25 and 30. A BMI above 30 is defined as obese, and one below 18.5 is considered underweight.
Figure 1: Association of morbidity and mortality with BMI
Table 1: Risk of diseases and BMI
Generally, BMI is a useful screening tool. However, one of the major disadvantages associated with BMI is that it fails to differentiate fat from lean body mass or establish the location of most fats. In such situations, waist circumference could serve as a beneficial tool to measure the location of fat.
SRI LANKA
