THE obesity it is an increasingly common problem around the world, mainly due to poor eating habits and lack of regular physical activity. Looking at our bodies, sometimes we can't tell if we're at the right weight or if we're heading for this terrible problem. For this reason, it is necessary to observe some parameters.
A commonly used calculation to check the mass of an individual is the BMI or Body Mass Index. This index, recommended by the World Health Organization, because of its practicality, is calculated by dividing the weight in kilograms by the height in meters squared.
BMI = Current weight (kg) / height2 (m2)
From the result of this division, it is possible to observe whether an individual is underweight, within adequate limits or obese. See the reference values:
Imagine, for example, that a person who is 1.6 m tall is 63 kg. Performing the calculation, we notice that this individual has a BMI equal to 24.60. The result obtained indicates that this person is within the indicated values for their height.
Analyzing the reference values, it is possible to verify that the higher the BMI, the greater the chances of an individual developing some heart disease, high blood pressure and diabetes. Obesity is directly related to these health problems and, therefore, one should be aware of weight gain. However, it is noteworthy that thin people can also develop several problems and that people with low weight are more prone to infectious diseases and malnutrition.
Do not stop now... There's more after the advertising ;)
Limitations of BMI
BMI, however, has some limitations and, therefore, should not be used as the only parameter to determine overweight. By considering only the individual's weight, the BMI does not allow differentiating what is muscle (lean mass) from what is actually fat. For this reason, erroneous results may be obtained that do not match the actual body composition of each individual. Therefore, it is essential to carry out the quantification of body fat before the confirmation of diagnosis and also taking measurements of abdominal circumference and rates of cholesterol.
It is important to note that BMI is performed only on adults. In children, the analysis of obesity and low weight is performed by observing weight and comparing it with age and height.
By Ma. Vanessa dos Santos
Would you like to reference this text in a school or academic work? Look:
SANTOS, Vanessa Sardinha dos. "Body Mass Index (BMI)"; Brazil School. Available in: https://brasilescola.uol.com.br/saude-na-escola/Indice-massa-corporea-imc.htm. Accessed on June 27, 2021.
