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OBESITY AND CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE
From the HSI e-Alert November 14th 2005
Obesity is one of the key risk factors for cardiovascular disease. This fact is well known. But what’s the best way to measure obesity to predict a decline in heart health?
One common measure is body mass index (BMI), which is an estimate of your total body fat based on your weight and height. As I’ve mentioned in previous e-Alerts, a BMI above 25 is considered overweight, and 30 or above indicates obesity. (You can calculate your BMI with the Centers for Disease Control BMI calculator at cdc.gov.)
But critics of the BMI point out that many athletes in peak physical shape actually have high BMI numbers because their superior muscle tone adds to their weight. So (goes the argument). Shaquille O’Neill might have a BMI that’s in the overweight zone, but he’s surely not at higher risk of heart disease because of it.
That’s a valid point, but it’s academic, because after we ask all the first-class athletes to leave the room, those of us left behind can feel completely secure in using the BMI to assess weight issues and heart disease risk. In other words, a borderline couch potato shouldn’t compare Shaq’s BMI to his own unless he’s trying to get a laugh.
So the BMI is a useful measure. Imperfect but useful.
Would you like to know your BMI?
Please give me your Name, EMail Address
and your height in Feet and Inches
and your Weight in Pounds
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You can contact me by Tel: 0161 740 0353 or by E-Mail: evam3_917@hotmail.com