Lynne's
Saturday, November 27, 2004
Turn back the clock!
Today I learned that my body would not be an overweight body if the year were still 1998. Before 1998, a man was officially overweight with a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 27.8 percent and a woman at 27.3 percent. In 1998 the BMI formula was fully revamped. Viola, 37 million people became overweight just like that. Currently, you are overweight if you have a BMI between 25 to 29.9. You are obese if your BMI is 30 or higher.
Obviously there is more to the BMI. To fully understand its real meaning consideration has to be given to age, gender, physical activity, where fat is carried, amount of muscle, etc.
Actually, in spite of my headline, I do not want to turn back the clock just yet. I hope my BMI continues to fall because an additional 12 pounds of fat (not muscle) off my body would be quite nice.
Today I learned that my body would not be an overweight body if the year were still 1998. Before 1998, a man was officially overweight with a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 27.8 percent and a woman at 27.3 percent. In 1998 the BMI formula was fully revamped. Viola, 37 million people became overweight just like that. Currently, you are overweight if you have a BMI between 25 to 29.9. You are obese if your BMI is 30 or higher.
Obviously there is more to the BMI. To fully understand its real meaning consideration has to be given to age, gender, physical activity, where fat is carried, amount of muscle, etc.
Actually, in spite of my headline, I do not want to turn back the clock just yet. I hope my BMI continues to fall because an additional 12 pounds of fat (not muscle) off my body would be quite nice.
posted 3:51:00 PM
