Weight is a relative quantity.For one person, 60 kilograms can be the first stage of obesity, and for another it is a sign of severe malnutrition. It is for this purpose that specialists based on a series of studies have derived a body mass index (BMI) or a weight and growth factor. This coefficient allows you to determine, without the help of a specialist, independently, at home, how much your weight corresponds to the norm.
Definition
The body mass index is the ratio ofweight and height. It is used to determine whether a person is healthy for his body weight or is at risk of underweight or overweight.
The deviation of the body mass index from the norm at times increases the risk of the emergence of a wide variety of diseases, in particular diseases of the joints and the cardiovascular system.
BMI values are the same for both sexes.The health risks associated with increasing body weight are characterized by continuous action. However, depending on the population, the weight and growth factors are still interpreted with some changes.
Why is it important to maintain a healthy weight?
If you do not have diseases that lead toexcess weight, then regular physical activity and proper nutrition will help you easily adhere to the norm. And it is necessary first of all not because of the appearance, but because of a number of health benefits:
- absence of pain in muscles and joints;
- more energy and a desire to participate in various activities;
- improvement of blood circulation, stabilization of blood pressure;
- healthy, strong sleep;
- reduction of triglycerides and glucose in the blood;
- reducing the risk of heart disease and several types of cancer.
Excess weight gives a big load on the heart, raises blood pressure, cholesterol level in the blood.
What are the effects of obesity?
People who are obese are at risk. Excess weight can cause the following diseases and conditions:
- High mortality.
- Hypertension.
- Increased level of low-density lipoproteins ("bad" cholesterol) and low-density lipoproteins ("good" cholesterol).
- Type 2 diabetes.
- Cardiac ischemia.
- Strokes.
- Diseases of the gallbladder.
- Osteoarthritis (destruction of cartilage in the joints).
- Sleep disturbances.
- Problems with breathing.
- Chronic inflammatory processes.
- Some types of cancer (breast, colon, kidney, gallbladder and liver cancer).
- Low level of quality of life.
- Mental illnesses such as depression, anxiety, etc.
- Chronic pain and difficulty in movement.
Over the past few years, obesity has caused many suicides.
Is body weight deficiency dangerous?
The frequent misconception that to be thin is good. As well as a high weight and height ratio, lack of weight is a deviation from the norm and can lead to a number of serious diseases:
- infertility;
- amenorrhea in women;
- autoimmune diseases;
- Type 1 diabetes;
- hyperthyroidism (thyroid disease);
- mental problems, depression, anxiety, anorexia nervosa;
- digestive problems.
In the case of insufficient weight, it is also necessary to seek the help of specialists in order to identify the cause of the deviation and to develop a proper diet and system of physical exercises.
What is BMI used for?
Body mass index alone cannot besufficient tool for a comprehensive diagnosis. For example, the ratio of weight and height for men involved in weightlifting, very often does not meet the statistical norm. This is due to the fact that the values are defined for the "ordinary" person, with a small number of muscles. In the case of people with significant muscle mass, the results may be erroneous.
That is why to identify potential problems with weight specialist also need to perform the following steps:
- measure the thickness of the skin fold to determine the percentage of fat mass;
- analyze diet and physical activity;
- learn about weight problems with the next of kin;
- perform additional analyzes as needed.
A high body mass index is not always indicative of obesity, but in order to determine whether such weight is hazardous to health, it is important to consult a specialist.
How to calculate weight and height ratio by yourself?
A Belgian scientist, one of the pioneers of statistics, Adolf Ketle, about 150 years ago, developed a formula for determining BMI.
Of course, there have been many changes in 150 years.Changed not only the complexion of man, but also a way of life. This had no effect on the formula itself, but modern scientists have corrected the data by which we can determine the weight and height ratio today.
The formula for calculating body mass index is quite simple: it is necessary to divide the weight in kilograms by height (in meters) squared.
For example, a girl is 160 cm tall and weighs 55 kg. BMI for her will look like this 55 / 1.62 = 21.5
It is enough to check the obtained value with the table below, and now you already know if your weight is within the normal range.
The ratio of weight and height for women and men is the same and is equal to:
Less than 18.5 | Lack of weight |
18.5 - 24, I | Healthy, normal weight |
25.0 - 29, I | Excess weight |
Over 30 | Obesity |
If you go back to the example, then, according to the table, our girl's body mass index is within the normal range. There are no health hazards associated directly with the weight.
How well does BMI characterize the percentage of body fat?
The relationship between BMI and fatsediment is quite strong. However, even in people whose weight and height ratio is as similar as possible (up to hundredths of a thousand), the percentage of fat mass can vary considerably.
With the same body mass index:
- in women, as a rule, the percentage of body fat is higher than in men;
- depending on race, whites have more fat than blacks and less than Asians;
- athletes have less body fat than people with minimal physical activity.
A high weight and height ratio is not alwaysevidence of excessive obesity person. A BMI above the norm may equally indicate a high level in the body of both fat and muscle mass.
