You are more than a category! BMI, promise.

Last post you did the calculations, and figured out what BMI category you fit into.   Remember to subscribe!  This is a new blog, and I have not yet received any subscribers!

Today we explore those numbers.  Depending on what numbers you received in the Feb, 22 2014 post, you should read the section that discusses your current status.  I see no use in worrying about other categories of BMI when you don’t fit them.  Become aware of where you are today, and that is all.  If you treat today like it is your starting point, you can control your situation.  If you worry about all of the other categories yet to come, you will only become overwhelmed.  Know your category, know your risks.

I’m going to start by simply noting possible concerns for each category. 

When underweight (BMI <18.5) Primarily this is a condition in which impaired nutrient availability is your greatest concern.  In American society we are eating more highly processed foods than in most other cultures. The definition of processed foods differs depending on where you look.  Conceptually speaking, when you find processed foods they will have additives, including something as simple as high salt content, to chemicals that are difficult to pronounce.  Processing also has to do with the way products are treated, such as cooking, or freezing.  In each way that a food is processed consider that at the chemical level, nutrients that are of value to you are being destroyed. This is where the concern comes in for underweight individuals.  Most foods being eaten by Americans are high calorie, low nutrient foods.  So if you aren’t even getting enough calories to maintain a healthy weight, there is a very high likelihood that you are nutrient poor as well. This can be expressed as iron deficiency, anemic conditions, calcium deficiencies, or bone loss, as well as generally higher levels of fatigue and let’s be honest.  It’s going to allow your body to work less efficiently.  This could mean something as simple as not even being able to think as clearly in some instances. Fat is what you body uses to build neurons… (your brain!).   Or it could mean something a bit more worrying like inability to fight off an infection.  So if you are underweight consult with a dietitian and get on track with a focus on nutrient dense foods.

Normal weight (BMIM 18.6 – 24.9) should be looked at as the category in which you have the lowest degree of risk.  This means that you are maximizing your health simply by maintaining appropriate weight levels.  This allows great equilibrium in the inner workings of your body.  Consider your joints, they are now under less stress, your blood pressure may likely be reduced as compared to what it would be at overweight or obese. This could be a measurable difference that could lead you to a discussion with your physician as to whether or not modification of your medication regiment might be warranted. Intra-abdominal fat is lower, and less of it is surrounding the heart, allowing even greater blood flow through your coronary arteries.  This reduces your risk of cardiovascular events in the future.  It should be noted that an estimated average weight gain per American male every decade is about 5 lbs, and for females it’s about 3.5 lbs.  So just because you fit into this category does not mean you get to forget this. It just means it’s time to look at the quality of your diet, and other health related issues.

Overweight (BMI 25-29.9) and Obese (BMI 30-34.9)

Ok, let’s be real, this is more of a complex issue than the cdc or nih will legitimately put in writing.  First off they are simply going to post neutral comments about how obesity is possibly genetic, or behavioral, or a combination of both.  This is what gets me ticked off.  We all know that we make our own decisions regardless of disease and disorder.  Yes, there are reasons one person might be more likely than another to be obese.  But that is not your excuse to accept your current position.  Please, seriously consider the fact that you control your life.  You are the only person who puts food into your mouth.  No one else!  If you’re intake gives more calories and less nutrient value than you physically need, it IS primarily your choice.   To be able to make the change, you have to know you have a choice.  YOU DO!

This is a truncated list of what is ahead for you if you’re obese.  This is a list of conditions you are at risk for: When listing simply the condition, I feel people have little understanding of what comes afterwards, but I will make an attempt to elaborate.

Coronary Heart Disease (This means heart attacks, bypass surgery and a typical a lot of chronic chest pain and medications)

Type 2 Diabetes (This means blood sugar disorders that lead to numbness in the feet and amputations)

Cancers (This can mean undergoing chemotherapy, mastectomy, colon surgery, possibly having an  ostomy bag)

Hypertension (Being on chronic medications possibly leading to side effect, increased risk of heart attack and stroke)

Dyslipidemia (This means elevated bad cholesterol, which also increases your risk of heart attack and stroke)

Stroke (this means you might be wheelchair bound for the remainder of your life, or it could be minor and you would simply have poor strength on one side of your body.  Also you may lose your ability to speak fluidly)

Sleep Apnea (This means you may require a breathing machine at night, every night, or to wear oxygen during he day)

Liver and gallbladder disease (this means that you may undergo surgery to remove the gallbladder and be placed on chronic antidiarrheal medicine)

Osteoarthritis (This means you will likely have years of knee or hip pain that lead to eventual surgical replacement secondary to excess weight destroying your cartilage leading to OA.

I hope this leaves you slightly more informed about the dangers of being outside of the normal weight category and why it is not just a number and is not to be ignored.

NIH put out a pamphlet that you can read online.  The link for this document is http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/guidelines/obesity/ob_gdlns.pdf

Personally I think it’s a bit long, and all they do is talk about reduction in diet alone versus increased activity alone, or both combined and that it might help.  Truth is we all know this will help.

No information on this blog is intended to give advice or recommendations for action.  Rather this is a review of information only.  All action taken by a reader should be evaluated by their physician.