According to medical scientists, BMI, which stands for Body Mass Index, is a possible indicator of developing a series of conditions such as excessive cholesterol levels, arteriosclerosis, hypertension, heart disease, diabetes mellitus and kidney disease. The Body Mass Index calculates the ratio between one’s height (and physical constitution) and weight, also taking in consideration one’s gender and age. An abnormally high BMI (characteristic to overweight and obese people) points to serious health risks at a certain stage in life. While some persons with abnormally high BMI develop cholesterol problems and heart disease at more advanced ages (usually over the age of 40), others may be confronted with serious health problems by the age of 25 or even earlier.

At present, two out of three Americans are rendered overweight or obese by BMI criteria. By contrast, several studies conducted in the late 60’s indicate that only one in four persons were defined as such by BMI criteria at that time. Today’s increasingly larger number of people confronted with excessive weight comes as a very disturbing fact, considering that persons with serious weight problems are very susceptible to developing an entire series of interrelated disorders. According to statistic studies, obesity and elevated cholesterol are responsible for causing more than 280,000 annual deaths among the population of the United States. Obesity and high cholesterol levels have even surpassed smoking as the leading preventable cause of death in the United States and many European countries.

Medical scientists inform that a normal BMI ranges anywhere from 18 to 24, with several exceptions registered among persons with handicap and persons with other special conditions. Persons who have a BMI over the value of 24 are exposed to a serious risk of increased blood pressure, arteriosclerosis, heart disease and congestive heart failure due to elevated blood cholesterol (cholesterol levels are considerably higher in overweight and obese persons than in persons with normal weight). Having a BMI over 24 also renders one more susceptible of developing diabetes mellitus due to impaired glucose tolerance and an entire series of disorders associated with diabetes: decreased vision, impairments of the nervous system, kidney failure and so on.

Persons who are classified as overweight or obese by BMI criteria are advised to take special measures for controlling their weight. Healthy diet and regular physical exercise are the best methods of losing weight without the aid of doctor-prescribed medications. Persons who can’t lose weight by only with the means of diet and exercise should ask for support from their doctor or nutritionist. Persons with abnormally high BMI should realize the risks involved and make efforts to efficiently control their weight before it is too late.

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