BMI - Body Mass Index

BMI (Body Mass Index) is a number calculated from weight and height that roughly corresponds to the percentage of your total weight that comes from fat, as opposed to muscle, bone or organ. Although it is considered to be a useful way to estimate healthy body weight, it does not measure the percentage of body fat.

Click here to check your BMI.

The BMI calculators will place you in one of the following categories:

• Those with a BMI below 18.5 are considered underweight.
• Those with a BMI between 18.5 and 24.9 are considered normal weight.
• Those with a BMI between 25.0 and 29.9 are considered overweight
• Those with a BMI of 30.0 and above are considered obese.

In addition to BMI, those who have a waist size of more than 101.6 centimeters for men, or  88.9 centimeters for women, have a higher risk for obesity-related health problems such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease.

The higher a person's BMI, the higher the percentage of fat in their body. If your BMI is under 20, you might be underweight. Between 20 and 25, you are probably at a good healthy weight for your height. A BMI over 25 is considered overweight, and over 35 is considered obese.

Symptoms

Underweight

• If you are thin and suffers from hyperthyroidism, tuberculosis, Lou Gehrig's disease, multiple sclerosis, HIV/AIDS or cancer, that might be underweight. When those diseases develop, the body uses the protein in muscle to combat inflammation and leads to rapid weight loss.
• Fatigue
• Poor physical stamina
• Low resistance to infection
• Low body weight
• Loss of menstruation

Overweight

• Enlarged stomach, waist, thighs, and/or buttocks
• Fatigue
• Saggy breasts (in women)

Popular treatments and recommendations  

Underweight

• Combine equal amounts of pomegranate seed powder, white muesli powder and Indian ginseng root powder. Intake this mixture, twice a day for about a month, along with a glass of water. Not only does it helps gain weight, but also tones up the body.
• The most effective and simple remedy to gain weight is to consume banana shake. It is a fast way to gain weight. 
• Another effective way would be to have banana thrice a day. 
• Muskmelon is beneficial in treating underweight problem. Have muskmelon three times a day as it helps in gaining weight.
• Another effective way to cure underweight problem would be to have fruit diet .
• Mangoes are useful in gaining weight. 
• Raisins are beneficial in solving underweight problems. Have 30 grams of raisins every day for about a month. This would surely cure underweight problems.
• Take 3-4 dry figs and immerse them in water. Keep them overnight. Have this twice a day to get cured of underweight problem.
• Intake 100 to 150 grams of bran with fruits. The best deal would be to take it with papaya. It works as an excellent appetizer improving digestion and reducing constipation.
• Increase in the intake of fatty foods such as flour, raisins, figs, dates,  germinated wheat, etc.

Overweight

• Increase usage of fresh fruits and vegetables.
• Decrease the usage of white breads and other processed foods.
• Avoid intake of too much salt, cook with spices like cayenne, turmeric, black pepper, ginger and rock salt.
• Avoid refined sugars and carbonated drinks.
• Fasting once in a week is very effective. While fasting you may have fruit or vegetable juices,  light soups, teas, etc.
• Use vegetable oil in place of butter or margarine.
• Mix one teaspoon of fresh honey with the juice of half a lime in a glass of lukewarm water and take several times a day at regular intervals.

Prevention

Underweight

• You can try to prevent being underweight by eating three proper meals every day.
• Skipping meals can make you lose weight, especially if you are an active individual.
• You will need to try and eat properly when it is time for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Have a small snack when you are hungry in between these meals.
• If you want to avoid weight loss and being underweight due to certain illnesses, it is advisable that you try and avoid people who have these ailments that are contagious and can cause you to lose weight.

Overweight

• Regular exercise is a must to maintain a healthy body. Walking is the best exercise to start with and may be followed by running, swimming or rowing.
• Fasting once a week is considered highly beneficial in the treatment of obesity.
• Stress needs to be reduced, as stress is often the cause of bad eating habits.
• Avoid eating late at night.
• Drink hot water frequently throughout the day.   

 

Limitations of BMI

While the BMI tool is fairly reliable, it is only one tool that physicians use in evaluating  health status. It is important to take other measures like blood pressure, cardiac health, physical inactivity and abdominal girth. Also keep in mind that BMI does not distinguish between muscle mass and fat mass. A particularly athletic person whose weight is higher due to muscle may have a BMI that indicates that they are overweight, when their weight is simply higher due to muscle mass.

References

• http://www.simple-remedies.com/home-remedies/underweight/underweight-prevention.html

• http://www.home-remedies-for-you.com/remedy/Underweight.html

• http://www.iloveindia.com/home-remedies/underweight.html

• http://www.livestrong.com/article/277158-underweight-symptoms/

• http://www.prokerala.com/health/ayurveda/over-weight-loss-treatment.htm

• http://health.hpathy.com/obesity-cause-symptoms-treatment-cure.asp

• http://www.rightdiagnosis.com/o/overweight/symptoms.htm

 

Insert date: 2011.09.27
Last update: 2011.10.05
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