Body Mass Index

Body mass index, or BMI, is a way to measure for high body fatness. It's used in many fat loss plans to determine a starting point in your weight loss journey. BMI uses your height and weight to calculate your body fat and is a commonly used method of screening for four weight categories: underweight, normal/healthy weight, overweight, and obese.

BMI can be used as an inexpensive method to determine body fatness since it uses your height and weight. Your BMI is calculated by dividing your weight in pounds by height in inches squared and multiplied by a conversion factor of 703.

Body mass index break down:

• A BMI below 18.5 is considered underweight, which has its own set of health risks, like weakened immune system, fragile hones, and inhibited growth.
• A BMI between 18.5 and 24.9 is considered normal and will have less of a risk of serious health conditions.
• A BMI over 25 is considered overweight, and a BMI above 30 is considered obese. Both have increased risks of serious health conditions. Individuals in either of these ranges could benefit from fat loss.

A high BMI can be an indicator of high body fatness, and if a high body mass index is found, a doctor would have to perform further assessments and use those diagnostics to create a personalized fat loss plan. Weight loss would be highly recommended to improve an individual's health.

Overweight and obese individuals are at an increased risk of:

• Type 2 diabetes
• Hypertension/high blood pressure
• Cancers
• Stroke
• Heart disease
• Sleep apnea

If your BMI is considered overweight or obese, a custom weight loss or fat loss plan can help you lose weight in a healthy way and keep the weight off. Weight loss and weight management is a process, and Personal Primary Care will work with you every step of the way. We'll use your body mass index, family history, diet, physical activity, and more to personalize a fat loss program for you.

Personal Primary Care offers weight loss and fat loss programs and diet plans based on BMI for patients in Western MA, including Longmeadow MA, Hampden MA, and West Springfield MA, and Northern CT.

Learn more about our weight loss program here!