Is the Body Mass Index More Reliable?

Many health professionals consider the body mass index to be a more reliable indicator of a person's healthy weight.

Maintaining a healthy or ideal body weight requires a balance between the expenditure of energy and the intake of nutrients.

Generally when energy requirements of an individual equal with the daily caloric intake the body weight remains stable.

Ideal body weight or IBW is the optimal weight recommended for optimal health.

To determine an individual's IBW, the nurse can consult standardized tables such as the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company Height and Weight Table or can quickly calculate an approximate body weight, and therefore the body mass index, by using the rule of 5 for women and the rule of 6 for men.

The rule of 5 for women is 100 pounds for 5 feet of height, plus 5 pounds for each inch over 5 feet, plus or minus 10% for body-frame size.

The rule of 6 for men is 106 pounds for 5 feet of height, plus 6 pounds for each inch over 5 feet, plus or minus 10% for body-frame size.

The approximate weights can be increased or decreased by 10 percent depending on the person's body frame as stated above.

With all this said, for people over 18 years old, the BMI is an indicator of changes in body fat stores and whether a person's weight is approximate for height, and it may provide a useful estimate of malnutrition as well.

Just remember, the results of the BMI must be used with caution in people who have fluid retention such as ascites or edema.

So, how can we calculate the body mass index or BMI?

First, we measure the person's height in meters ( 1 meter = 3.3 feet ).

Second, we measure the weight in kilograms ( 1 kilogram = 2.2 pounds ).

Third, we calculate the BMI using the following formula: weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared.

For example: A person is 1.5 meters tall and weighs 60 kilograms.

The formula would be 60 kilograms divided by 1.5 times 1.5 meters squared which would equal 26.6 BMI.

Don't worry about working out your BMI by hand, you can use our handy BMI calculator to determine your BMI so that you will know exactly where you stand.

So, now that you know your body mass index, what do you do next? Simple.

You start losing weight until you reach your ideal body mass index level. Here's how.

• Incorporate a proven, complete nutritional program into your daily life.
• Enhance your nutritional program with a complete mutivitamin supplement because no nutritional program is perfect.
• Use a behavior modification and motivational program that will help you stay on track with your nutritional plan.
• Exercise at home with your own:
  Treadmill

  Stairstepper

  Exercise bike

  Elliptical trainer

  Hand weights or

  An aerobic video.

• See what kinds of weight loss aids your health insurance covers such as:
  Hypnotism

  Gym membership discounts

  Nutritional counseling.

So, go ahead. Begin your journey to overcoming obesity once and for all!

Now is the time.

Don't delay. Start today by follow the steps above.

You can do this! I highly recommend it!

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