How is BMI interpreted for adults? What is the ideal BMI for a man? What is the ideal BMI for a woman?
The BMI level for obesity is same for adult men and adult women.
By ET Online | Updated:
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Indians should start worrying once their BMI reaches 22, as the BMI cut-off for South Asians must be 23.
Obesity in India is a major cause of worry as it can lead to a host of health woes such as diabetes, hypertension and heart problems, among others.
A World Health Organization (WHO) report in May 2019 said the number of obese people in the world has nearly tripled in the last 40 years, and around 50 per cent of the adult population were either overweight or obese.
India secured the third position on WHO's Global Obesity Index 2019 — the USA and China were at number one and two, respectively. The prevalence of obesity is more likely in women than men. Studies have even found that a severely obese person's life expectancy reduces by as much as 20 years in men and about 5 years in women.
While the Body Mass Index (BMI) has been surrounded by various controversies about its accuracy, the simple math formula can help adults interpret if they are underweight, normal, overweight or obese.
The BMI can be derived by dividing a person's weight (in kilogrammes) with the square of the height (in metres).
BMI = weight (in kg) / height x height (in metre)
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The WHO classifies an adult as overweight or obese depending on the calculation:
BMI > 25 = overweight
BMI > 30 = obesity
The BMI level for being overweight and obesity is same for adult men as well as adult women.
For men and women, a BMI between 18.5 and 24.9 is normal. Anything under 18.5 is considered underweight, and between 24.9 and 30 as overweight.
However, the American Diabetes Association had earlier said that Indians should start worrying once their BMI reaches 22, as the BMI cut-off for South Asians must be 23.
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The BMI calculator is a great tool to achieve fitness goals. But professional athletes and those who want to have a long career in the field mustn’t blindly follow the BMI calculator.
The measurement tool has its flaws. Professional athletes like Usain Bolt, Tom Brady, LeBron James have higher BMI scores because the tool cannot separate muscle (lean tissue) content from body fat.
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World Health Day: Keep Lifestyle Diseases Like Hypertension, Diabetes & Obesity At Bay
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One year into the pandemic, our lives have become more sedantary than ever. Aspects like long working hours, lethargy, poor dietary habits and no physical activity are pushing people towards a number of lifestyle diseases like obesity, diabetes, hypertension, heart problems, among others.
These lifestyle diseases can be prevented with help of a a strict regime and necessary precautions. Here's a look at tips to deal with these diseases.
One year into the pandemic, our lives have become more sedantary than ever. Aspects like long working hours, lethargy, poor dietary habits and no physical activity are pushing people towards a number..
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Diabetes is among the fastest growing health issues today in India. The country currently accounts for 49 per cent of the world’s diabetes burden, with an estimated 72 million cases in 2017 alone. The figure is expected to be around 134 million, almost double by 2025.
This rising prevalence of diabetes is primarily driven by various factors such as sedentary lifestyles, unhealthy diets, tobacco use, among others.
While Type 1 diabetes (earlier known as insulin-dependent or childhood-onset diabetes) is characterised by a lack of insulin production by birth, Type 2 diabetes (earlier known as non-insulin-dependent or adult-onset diabetes) is caused by the body's ineffective use of insulin that often results from excess body weight and physical inactivity.
Diabetes is among the fastest growing health issues today in India. The country currently accounts for 49 per cent of the world’s diabetes burden, with an estimated 72 million cases in 2017 alone. Th..
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This chronic illness needs long-term multidisciplinary care. Dr Varsha Khatry, Head - Medical and Scientific Affair at Roche Diabetes Care India, shared some easy ways to not only reduce the risk of diabetes, but also prevent it.
- One of the primary reasons for diabetes is excess body weight. Maintaining healthy weight helps control blood sugars. - Cut sugar and refined carbs from your diet. Eating sugary foods and refined carbs can put at-risk individuals on the fast track to developing diabetes. - Stress affects people with and without diabetes. With diabetes, stress can affect your blood glucose level. Hence, managing stress before it aggrevates is crucial. - Exercise is like medicine. Lowering body sugar through exercise is one of the most effective ways to reduce the risk of diabetes. But, consistency is omportant. One should exercise for a minimum of 150 minutes a week. - Habits such as smoking and drinking too much alcohol can make diabetes and its complications worse. Too much alcohol may cause chronic inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis), which can impair its ability to secrete insulin and potentially lead to diabetes. On the other hand, smokers are twice as likely to develop diabetes as non-smokers. Smoking increases the risk for all diabetes-related health problems, such as kidney disease, nerve damage and leg and foot infections.
This chronic illness needs long-term multidisciplinary care. Dr Varsha Khatry, Head - Medical and Scientific Affair at Roche Diabetes Care India, shared some easy ways to not only reduce the risk of ..
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Obesity is a complex disease associated with an excessive amount of body fat. It is a multifactorial disease with genetic, behavioural, metabolic and hormonal influences on body weight. It occurs when calories consumed are more than calories burnt through exercise and normal daily activities. Body stores these excess calories as fat.
In a small number of cases, medical conditions or certain medications may increase the risk of obesity, while some people may have a genetic risk of becoming obese.
Obesity isn't just a cosmetic issue. It is a medical condition which increases risk of other illness such as high blood pressure, stroke, heart disease, diabetes, hyperlipidemia (high cholesterol levels), gallbladder stones, gout, sleep apnoea, osteoarthritis, some types of cancer, among others.
Obesity is measured by calculating body mass index (BMI). To determine BMI, divide weight in kilograms by height in meters squared. The cut offs for obesity are different for Asian Indians.
BMI below 18.5 > Underweight BMI 18.5-23.0 > Normal BMI 23.0-24.9 > Overweight BMI 25.0 and higher > Obesity
Waist size is also important as it measures abdominal fat. A waist circumference greater than 90 cm for men and 80cm for women (Asian Indian) indicates a significant increase in health risk.
Obesity is a complex disease associated with an excessive amount of body fat. It is a multifactorial disease with genetic, behavioural, metabolic and hormonal influences on body weight. It occurs whe..
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The risk factors for obesity can be counteracted through diet, physical activity and behavioral changes. So, eat wise, exercise right and drop your size.
Dr Sneha Kothari, Consultant - Endocrinology at Global Hospitals, Mumbai, shared a list of precautions one needs to follow to keep obesity at bay: - Avoid sugary drinks - Reduce portion size - Eat 2-3 small meals a day than one large meal - Eat low calorie foods such as fruits and vegetables - Avoid high-fat and junk foods such as sweets, potato chips, french fries, ice cream, etc. - Limit in-between meal snacking, and switch to healthy alternatives 150 to 300 minutes of moderate-intensity activity a week can prevent weight gain - Monitor weight regularly - Remember that everything you put in your mouth may increase your weight (food and drink)
The risk factors for obesity can be counteracted through diet, physical activity and behavioral changes. So, eat wise, exercise right and drop your size.Dr Sneha Kothari, Consultant - Endocrinology a..
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Hypertension or high blood pressure has become one of the most-prevalent lifestyle diseases in the present century. The incidence in India is as high as one out of every three adults, and majority of the affected people are not even aware.
This disease occurs when the pressure of blood in our vessels is higher than what it can stand. Values above 140 systolic and 90 diastolic pressure fall into the disease category. Initially, it is asymptomatic, but over a long period of time it starts affecting the kidney, brain, heart and lungs.
Hypertension is broadly classified into two types - primary and secondary. The primary form occurs solely because of our lifestyle and genetic make-up, while the secondary form arises due to chronic illness like kidney or endocrine disorder.
Hypertension or high blood pressure has become one of the most-prevalent lifestyle diseases in the present century. The incidence in India is as high as one out of every three adults, and majority of..
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Hypertension can become an epidemic if people know about this disease and take active steps to prevent. In order to prevent the blood pressure from rising, we need to change our lifestyle. Dr Varsha Dalal, Consultant Pathologist at Lifeline Laboratory, shared a few ways one can keep hypertension at bay: - Checking your weight and start working out. Higher amounts of fat in the body tend to accumulate in the blood vessels and make them inflexible, thus contributing to the raise in pressure. - Having a balanced diet is quintessential. It should comprise fruits, vegetables and good amount of water other than the regulated carbohydrate, fat and protein intake. - Reducing the salt/sodium content in home-cooked foods as well as avoiding processed foods is also required. - Cutting on tobacco and alcohol intake also strengthens the circulatory system of our body. - Managing stress is one of the key things when it comes to preventing the condition. - A good night's sleep is also plays an important role. - Regularity and consistency in daily work outs helps in maintaining the pressure.
Hypertension can become an epidemic if people know about this disease and take active steps to prevent. In order to prevent the blood pressure from rising, we need to change our lifestyle. Dr Varsha ..
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Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) has become one of the pressing public health issues in India due to its high prevalence, morbidity and mortality. According to a report by Indian Council of Medical Research, the incidence of CKD is as high as 17.2 per cent and the number is increasing every day.
There are a large number of factors to be blamed for leaping prevalence of CKD in India. Increasing air pollution, contamination of water, overcrowding, poverty, poor sanitation and nephro-toxins (including heavy metals and plant toxins) in indigenous remedies can also cause glomerular and interstitial kidney diseases. Increasing incidence of hypertension and diabetes in the country is also a major contributor to kidney ailments.
Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) has become one of the pressing public health issues in India due to its high prevalence, morbidity and mortality. According to a report by Indian Council of Medical Resea..
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Dr C Kedharnath, Senior Consultant Nephrologist, Westminster Healthcare, Chennai, believes prevention is better than cure. - Using over-the-counter medications or common drugs like aspirin, paracetamol, ibuprofen can result in high toxin levels and over-burden the kidneys - One must prevent getting exposed to chemicals like household cleaners, pesticides, tobacco and more - Maintaining healthy diet are must for keeping up kidney health - Avoid meat, seafood, nuts, and milk or milk product more than 500 mg/day - Patients must restrict potassium intake. Avoid potassium-rich foods like banana, avocado, citrus fruits, potato, beans, spinach, and fish
Dr C Kedharnath, Senior Consultant Nephrologist, Westminster Healthcare, Chennai, believes prevention is better than cure.- Using over-the-counter medications or common drugs like aspirin, paracetamo..
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Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) has been the top killer, globally. With the outbreak of the pandemic, researchers have found a close link between Covid-19 outcomes and CVD.
Covid-19 could be associated with a high inflammatory burden, so called inflammatory or 'cytokine storm', inducing vascular inflammation, myocarditis, and cardiac arrhythmias.
Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) has been the top killer, globally. With the outbreak of the pandemic, researchers have found a close link between Covid-19 outcomes and CVD.Covid-19 could be associated w..
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