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 persons with a BMI in the overweight or obese category means that they will have a greater chance of developing one of these diseases:
- Hypertension
- Dyslipidemia
- Type 2 Diabetes
- Coronary Heart Disease
- Stroke
- Gallbladder Disease
- Osteoarthritis
- Sleep Apnea
- Some Cancers
- Premature Death
- Gout
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 a meaningful effect on decreasing the risk of:
- Hypertension
- Dyslipidemia
- Stroke
- Heart Disease
- Certain Cancers
As I mentioned, Body Mass Index needs to be interpreted. 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 meaningful 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!
I can’t wait to take advantage of this service! Thanks!
Your welcome Kathleen! It will be fun to see what your BMI is!
some advanced and some moderate spondylosis
This is part of a report from the doctor who reviewed my xrays. I was told that as I get older it is common. Since I am a heart bipass patient and take several medications for that I was concerned that there was mention of some bilateral carotid artery calcification.
Rick radiologists like to use big words so everyone thinks they are smarter than everyone else. “Some advanced and some moderate spondylosis” just means you have normal wear and tear arthritis. Calcification in your carotid arteries is not good. If I were to give you advise about your calcification I would need lab work and a complete history. If your interested in my opinion feel free to contact me.
Dear Dr. K I have sinus troubles for years, I’ve had seven sinus surgeries in the past. I can not smell anymore because of these surgeries. I also had herniated disk in my neck, I have two titanium pieces put in place of the bones that were rubbing. I now have been diagnosed with staff infection in my sinuses. My ENT Dr. is doing a test to see what antibiotic will work, this is my second time I have had staff in my sinuses. I’ve been on three courses of antibiotics now and none are working. Do you think this is a neck problem or I am just suseptable to sinus infections for the rest of my life! I’ve done the working on my neck thing before my surgery on my neck, made things worse. I have a lot of health issues and I’m not looking forward to a life of infections in my nose.
Sorry for the delay Pat. I’ve been very busy.
It sounds like this is an infection more than a neck problem. You really need help getting HEALTHY. Your immune system is having trouble. A good article for you is the one I wrote about what to do after antibiotics. I help people with your issues often. If you would like to know more just contact me via the contact page.