The Body Mass Index has been a method used in the health care and fitness industries to assess an individuals risk for developing lifestyle oriented Diseases such as;
- Atherosclerosis
- heart disease
- stroke
- obesity
- type 2 diabetes
- smoking and alcohol and drug abuse
The choices people make due to social, familial or environmental exposure can cause numerous health complications that can put one at risk for developing the aforementioned aliments.
The BMI ( Body Mass Index ) is the measure of a persons Weight divided by their Height ( W/H ) and the relation the divided number is too a scale or chart. The fallacy with the BMI is that it doesn't take into account the "activity level" of the individual. For example a 185 person would rate on the BMI charts at 29, with a height of 5'5". This would indicate that this person is overweight and at risk for developing the above disease risks. But without taking into account the persons fitness level:
- # of times exercising ( aerobic, strength training or both ) per month
- type of diet they have
- Familial health history
The chart can limit the results that this person would have. That is why at Next Level we have the InBody 270 Body Composition Analyzer that takes into account more than just weight and height. The InBody measures weight in 3 forms:
- Water
- Muscle
- Fat
The composition of our bodies matter more than just W/H.
Therefore, when you see BMI on your health chart at your doctor's or fitness professional office take into account that they are only taking into account a small part of your overall health picture.
If you want to get a true assessment of your health. I would recommend scheduling a fitness evaluation at Next Level Fitness and that way we can figure out a fitness plan unique to you.
Next Level Fitness is a small private fitness facility in Oakland, CA. It is located in the GrandLake area of Oakland. Next Level Fitness provides chiropractic, personal training and small group training services to these areas of Oakland 94610, 94611, 94602. We cater to " Every-Body " but specialize in fitness services for adults 30 (+). Please join our fitness family!
A.Pigott DC
