How’s Your BMI?
Posted on April 17, 2020
Body mass index (BMI) is a number that’s closely related to body fat levels and the overall health of an individual. By combining a person’s weight with their height, a BMI screening can reveal whether a person is a healthy weight based upon their height. When this measurement falls outside of a healthy range, it can indicate when a person is underweight, overweight or obese.
Getting a BMI screening can help your doctor assess your future health risks. Being in the overweight or obese BMI range can lead to a variety of health conditions including high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular problems. While being underweight can put you at risk for anemia, malnutrition or osteoporosis.
Know Your BMI Number
Understanding your BMI and taking the steps to fall within a healthy range is very important to your physical health. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a healthy BMI range is between 18.5 and 24.9 for adults.
As we age, we tend to lose lean body mass, which may cause BMI to be lower. It’s important for older adults to maintain lean mass for better overall health.
Talk with your doctor about your BMI, what is considered healthy for your age and body composition, and any lifestyle changes that could help you stay healthy.
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