Guidelines: Knowing BMI Crucial In Battling Obesity
Researchers Say Millions Unsure Of Own BMI
UPDATED: 9:28 am CDT April 5, 2005
BOSTON -- While many Americans can tell you what their blood pressure or cholesterol level is, many have no idea about their body mass index.New health guidelines are stressing the importance of learning your BMI in the battle against obesity, reported WCVB-TV in Boston.Your BMI is a ratio of your height to your weight found through a complex formula. It's a good indicator of whether you may be at risk for heart disease, diabetes, stroke, cancer and many other illnesses. With obesity affecting 61 million Americans, it's a number doctors say everyone should know. 
Calculate Your BMI"And then we know if that's a healthy number, an overweight at-risk number, or it's obesity and illness number," said Dr. George Blackburn, of Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston. "You get that number and then we work one unit at a time to reduce that number."A BMI of 25 to 29 is considered overweight, 30 to 39 is obese and 40 or more is extremely obese.More than 9 million Americans have a BMI of more than 40, which is why the American College of Physicians released new guidelines for obesity. The guidelines, published in this week's issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine, recommend all obesity treatment begin with counseling, healthy eating and exercise. They say weight-loss drugs and surgery should only be considered in specific circumstances."Medications and surgery are to correct disorders of metabolism that won't respond just with diet and exercise," Blackburn said.A separate study released Monday found that weight-loss surgery helps severely obese people more than diet and exercise alone. On average, people who had surgery lost between 45 to 60 pounds and kept it off for 10 or more years, according to the study.But Blackburn said for the majority of Americans, healthy eating and exercise is the solution."They know there's no magic bullet," he said. "They know there's no one to blame but themselves. All they want are easy, simple programs that will produce results."
Calculate Your BMI"And then we know if that's a healthy number, an overweight at-risk number, or it's obesity and illness number," said Dr. George Blackburn, of Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston. "You get that number and then we work one unit at a time to reduce that number."A BMI of 25 to 29 is considered overweight, 30 to 39 is obese and 40 or more is extremely obese.More than 9 million Americans have a BMI of more than 40, which is why the American College of Physicians released new guidelines for obesity. The guidelines, published in this week's issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine, recommend all obesity treatment begin with counseling, healthy eating and exercise. They say weight-loss drugs and surgery should only be considered in specific circumstances."Medications and surgery are to correct disorders of metabolism that won't respond just with diet and exercise," Blackburn said.A separate study released Monday found that weight-loss surgery helps severely obese people more than diet and exercise alone. On average, people who had surgery lost between 45 to 60 pounds and kept it off for 10 or more years, according to the study.But Blackburn said for the majority of Americans, healthy eating and exercise is the solution."They know there's no magic bullet," he said. "They know there's no one to blame but themselves. All they want are easy, simple programs that will produce results." Distributed by Internet Broadcasting Systems, Inc. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
