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How Do I Make Sense of the Body Mass Index (BMI)?

By:
Sue Gilbert

Question :

Dear Sue:

We are researching society's fascination with weight. We found that the average model is 5'9" and weighs 110 pounds, for a BMI (body mass index) of 16.242. The average American female is 5'4" and weighs 145 pounds, for a BMI of 24.886. Which is more healthy? How do you reconcile what you see in models with average women? Should we strive for lower BMIs? Thanks,

Sara

Answer :

What the Experts Say:

We are fascinated with weight and can't seem to find a happy medium. Many of us are overweight because we eat too much, exercise too little, and are confronted with food temptations at every turn. At the same time, magazines lead us to believe that we should be ultra-thin. It's not a healthy scenario.

A BMI as low as 16 is a good sign of being underweight. Being too thin can be a problem if it results from under-eating. If you under-eat, you don't get all the nutrients you need to stay healthy. (A few slender folks are that way because of genetics: They may have inherited a speedy metabolism. Even though they may eat plenty, they burn it off more easily. Lucky them.)

On the other hand, as your BMI increases over 27, your risk of health problems associated with weight also increases. It appears from the numbers that the average American woman is the healthier of the two. But these numbers are incomplete. What about cholesterol levels? Levels of fitness? Balanced diet, mental health, and so on? Two women with the same BMIs can have completely different health scenarios. One may be a muscular athlete who exercises daily and eats healthy foods; the other may be a couch potato who smokes and drinks. A thin model may look good on glossy paper, but how does she size up under closer scrutiny?

Although measures such as BMIs are good tools, they have to be recognized for their limitations. I think the media do a poor job of helping us to see the big picture related to health. Don't go basing your self-worth on your BMI; nor should you judge your overall health or the appropriateness of your weight on that measure alone.

Your BMI is calculated by dividing your body weight (in kilograms) by the square of your eight (in meters). Confused? Have your BMI determined for you by the Health Calculator

Sue Gilbert, M.S., Nutritionist

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