BMI (body mass index)

by Dr. Kilcup | Nov 26, 2011 | Articles, Healthy Living | 6 comments

body mass index

What is Body Mass Index (BMI) you ask?  Well, allow me to explain.  First of all, it is a free service I offer to all of my patients. Body Mass Index is a screening tool that uses your height and weight to evaluate your body fat. Knowing your BMI will give you a ballpark idea of whether your weight is healthy for you.  In order to interpret BMI, there are other factors that must be taken into consideration. Physical activity, age, body composition, waist circumference, blood pressure, cholesterol level, blood sugar level, and family history of disease are important factors that need to be taken into account in order to gain a proper understanding of BMI.

Body Mass Index is broken down in four categories:

  • Underweight 18.5 or less
  • Normal 18.5 – 24.9
  • Overweight 25.0 -29.9
  • Obese 30.0 or higher

In general, people with a BMI in the overweight or obese category means that they will have a greater chance of developing one of these diseases:

The higher the BMI the greater the chance a person has of getting these conditions.  For example, someone with a BMI in the obese category has a 50 to 100% increased risk of death compared to someone with a BMI in the normal range. 70% of the risk of developing diabetes is linked to being overweight.  Conversely, if a person is overweight and has one or more of these conditions, but then lose weight he/she has a good shot at conquering the disease.  Losing as little as 10% can have an impressive effect on decreasing the risk of:

  • Hypertension
  • Dyslipidemia
  • Stroke
  • Heart Disease
  • Certain Cancers

What Does it Mean?

As I mentioned, Body Mass Index requires interpretation.  The BMI score is a rough number and needs to be factored in with more information in order to have real meaning.  For example, a person with a muscular build will have a high BMI, because the BMI does not take into account lean muscle mass.  Also, BMI is not helpful for pregnant or breastfeeding women, nor is it helpful for kids.

While Body Mass Index has its limitations, it is a good tool.  If the BMI is too high, it is time to see a doctor and have it interpreted.  Lab work, an examination, and a good history of a patient are the key elements to guiding a physician.

Next time you’re in my office, we would be happy to calculate your BMI and blood pressure as part of your care. Many people may not realize that a chiropractor could help with things like Body Mass Index and blood pressure. However, over the last 20 years I have helped my patients with a wide variety of health problems, from chronic ear infections in kids to chronic fatigue issues in adults and a whole lot in between. What chiropractors don’t do is drugs or surgery.  I like to think of myself as an alternative family doctor, offering a different approach to mainstream medical treatment.  Sometimes drugs are necessary, but often the path to health can be achieved without drugs or surgery.

Do you have any questions or comments?  I would love to interact with you here in the comment section!

Darrell Kilcup, DC, CFMP


Hi there! I’m Dr. Kilcup. You know that health problem you’ve been dealing with – the one that doctors can’t seem to solve, that’s stealing way too much of your time, energy and joy? I can help you get to the bottom that. I am passionate about using the best of science and nutrition to find and fix root causes of health issues. Start your journey towards healing and relief today.

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Mike Kutz
4 months ago
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Sarina Gomez
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I am very grateful to have found Dr. Kilcup and be his patient for the last couple of years. He has helped me restore my health back after being exposed to toxic mold for years. He helped identify and treat all of my symptoms I was experiencing and address the root problem. I was looking for the right person who could help me heal with natural therapies and supplements and Dr. Kilcup was the perfect fit. Every appointment and session was necessary and one step towards all the progress I made. Dr. Kilcup is a great functional medicine doctor who was also an advocate for my own health and well-being. I never received any care or attention to detail from other Doctors in past experiences except with Dr. Kilcup. Anyone who is seeking a holistic path towards healing or improving their own health should see him.
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