We’ve all been told, “You need to maintain a healthy BMI because of (fill in the blank).” But, have you ever asked yourself what determines a healthy BMI? The Center for Disease Control defines BMI as “a calculated measure of weight relative to height.” However, there are a number of considerations that go into this result, which can skew one way or another.
Understanding BMI and Why It’s Important
It’s important to mention that there are a lot of factors when it comes to determining BMI. While it is a good indicator for determining risk factors of much of the adult population, that is not true for everyone. Bodybuilders or other individuals who have a lot of muscle might find their results skewed with a higher number, despite being very healthy. Similarly, BMI may not take into consideration older adults who have lost muscle mass with age.
Calculating your individual number can be accomplished by entering your height and weight into an online calculator. The numbers fall into broad ranges that help indicate your potential risk for certain diseases.
- Underweight: BMI is less than 18.5
- Normal weight: BMI is 18.5 to 24.9
- Overweight: BMI is 25 to 29.9
- Obesity: BMI is 30 or more
How To Maintain a Healthy BMI
Having a BMI of 25 or higher is considered overweight. And while there are exceptions to this number, generally there are increased risk factors of developing serious health problems, including heart disease, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, gallstones, breathing problems, and certain cancers.
There are a number of factors that contribute to an individual’s body weight including metabolism, family history and genetics, environment, and behavior or habits. While not all of them can be easily managed with lifestyle changes, there are a few that can.
A healthy and balanced diet, maintaining regular physical activity and reducing periods of inactivity throughout the day are lifestyle changes that can help obtain or maintain a healthier BMI.
Solidarity Well Can Help You
If you are struggling to maintain a healthy weight, you aren’t alone and there are resources available to help. At Solidarity HealthShare, we’ve developed a program called Solidarity Well. This program was created based on our belief that we are all creatures of God and have a moral and spiritual obligation to take care of our bodies. We know the journey to a healthy lifestyle looks different for everyone, so this program allows individuals to participate in our cost-saving healthshare ministry while getting the support they need to make positive health changes with the help of a nutrition coach. To learn more about how we can help you and your loved ones save money while getting healthier, we invite you to contact us at 737-SHARING.