BMI is often discussed as a definitive way to determine if your weight is healthy or not. But, in truth, there is considerable misunderstanding around this relatively simple calculation as well as what it can truly tell you.
Here at Bergen Bariatric and Surgical Solutions, we take BMI into consideration when diagnosing and treating our patients. But Dr. Mikhail A. Botvinov and the rest of our staff want you to know exactly what BMI is, what it tells us, and how it fits into your overall plan for long-term bariatric care.
https://www.doctorbotvinov.com/services/bmi. It’s a mathematical calculation that takes your weight and height into account to give you a loose guide to your ideal weight. The emphasis here is on looseness, as the BMI calculation doesn’t perfectly fit with every person’s body type. But more on that later.
The calculation works by dividing your weight (in kilograms) by the square of your height (in meters). You can also divide your weight (in pounds) by the square of your height (in inches) and add 703. After this, you can find your number on the BMI chart:
As you can see, the calculation is more in-depth and includes numbers for weighing more or less than is ideal for your height.
You may have felt discouraged in the past to see a very high BMI and wondered if everyone with the same height as you should be the same weight. However, the BMI scale was actually created with a very small sample size.
A Belgian astronomer in the 1800s created this equation when he was attempting to take a census of the population. During these calculations and in those that followed in the early 1900s, studies were focused primarily on white men, which leaves out large swaths of the population.
This is why providers and patients alike must take BMI results with a grain of salt. Yes, they can be a helpful way to determine if weight and height are somewhat in harmony, but people have different body types where weight is distributed differently. As such, it’s important to debunk the next myth.
This isn’t necessarily true. While being overweight or underweight can lead to health risks, some people’s bodies naturally have a higher or lower metabolism. A person’s lifestyle or job can also contribute to their weight, as can their ethnicity, gender, and age.
If you have a low or high BMI, it’s important to get checked for additional issues that can be associated with weight. For example, if your BMI is high but your blood pressure, cholesterol, and other aspects are fine, you may be healthy and simply need to monitor your weight. However, this depends on many factors that your provider should consider.
A high BMI could be just one reason to seek bariatric surgery. Because this surgery does require a lot of consideration and several lifestyle changes, it’s important to discuss this thoroughly with your provider before you seek it. However, a high BMI might result in your surgery being covered by insurance.
Your BMI isn’t the only factor to consider when taking your health and weight into account. In the long term, you’ll want to understand what a healthy weight is for you, and we’re happy to provide you with the full picture.
Call 201-778-5344 to make an appointment at our Westwood, NJ, office. You can also book an appointment online at your convenience.
