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Body Mass Index – an important but not the only indicator

You’ve probably heard of body mass index, which is based on your height and weight. It is used as an indicator of obesity, overweight, normal weight and underweight. However, body mass index has several disadvantages. It is not always the best indicator of your body weight and does not say anything about your physical condition.

Body Mass Index

Body mass index is divided into four categories:

  • malnutrition: under 18.5
  • normal body weight: between 18.5 and 24.9
  • overweight: between 25 and 29.9
  • obesity: above the 30th

In approximately 90 to 95% of the population, body mass index is as good as a general indicator of what category belongs to body weight. But for some people is not so good.

Body mass index is a number. It does not reveal anything about the composition of your body. For example, how much you have muscle and fat. For this reason, body mass index can sometimes give false results.

People with a high percentage of muscle mass

Some people have a high body mass index, but their bodies do not contain much fat percentage. Muscle mass increases body weight. People who exercise every day often fall into this category. Their body mass index may be high, but the percentage of fat is quite low.
inactive persons.

Some people have a normal body mass index, or have too high in fat. It may not look like it did not fit, but we all know that looks are deceiving. Some people have a small percentage of muscle and bone mass. These are mostly elderly, people in bad shape and people suffering from certain diseases.

Older people

Older persons should have a slightly larger percentage of fat. They must not be obese, respectively, must not have a body mass index above 30. Older people have a slightly increased percentage of fat live longer. The reasons are not entirely clear, but experts believe that they are better cope with the disease.

High body mass index, but anyway you are healthy?

There are people with a high body mass index, but they are still healthy. Their body mass index does not affect their health. Blood pressure and cholesterol are excellent, and the level of sugar in the blood. They have health problems, irrespective of increased body weight.

The measurement of body mass index is just one of the ways by which you can check how healthy you are, and body mass index should not serve as the sole indicator of overall health.

Place fat accumulation

It is not only important in fat, it is also the place where the fat accumulates. There is a big difference if the fat accumulates in the abdominal area or the area of the hips.

Abdominal fat, or fat in the stomach area is the most harmful to human health and increase the risk of developing type 2 diabetes and heart disease.

Grease that accumulates on the hips and thigh area, not so dangerous. A large number of women has increased the percentage of fat in the hips and thighs, but their slim waist. Mast on the lower part of the body does not cause so many health problems as fat in the abdominal area.

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