High BMI? Don't panic!
BMI's over 30 are further categorized as 1,2,3 based on risk.
The simplicity of setting standards, has caused some to become discouraged because of the seeming impossibility of losing many pounds to become "healthy". Looking at a year of dieting to lose 25 or 30 pounds... especially for older persons, can cause one to throw up his/her hands and say "it's too late!"
Depending on how deep one goes into understanding BMI, there are cases where the term... "Obese", isn't a be-all. In particular, dense muscle tissue can have an effect.
Another part comes from the "holier than thou" attitude of those who have a low BMI, or even doctors who can lay a guilt complex on their patients.
(I would add that age can have an effect on the ability to lose large amounts of weight quickly)
This in no way is meant to denigrate or deny the benefits of a healthy weight, but to put the rating system into context. As it is, two thirds of U.S. citizens are classified as obese using the current standards.
This article may help understand a little bit more behind the numbers.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/geoffreykabat/2013/01/06/how-useful-is-body-mass-index-in-predicting-long-term-health/#41e55d4f1c38
Excerpt:
BMI's over 30 are further categorized as 1,2,3 based on risk.
The simplicity of setting standards, has caused some to become discouraged because of the seeming impossibility of losing many pounds to become "healthy". Looking at a year of dieting to lose 25 or 30 pounds... especially for older persons, can cause one to throw up his/her hands and say "it's too late!"
Depending on how deep one goes into understanding BMI, there are cases where the term... "Obese", isn't a be-all. In particular, dense muscle tissue can have an effect.
Another part comes from the "holier than thou" attitude of those who have a low BMI, or even doctors who can lay a guilt complex on their patients.
(I would add that age can have an effect on the ability to lose large amounts of weight quickly)
This in no way is meant to denigrate or deny the benefits of a healthy weight, but to put the rating system into context. As it is, two thirds of U.S. citizens are classified as obese using the current standards.
This article may help understand a little bit more behind the numbers.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/geoffreykabat/2013/01/06/how-useful-is-body-mass-index-in-predicting-long-term-health/#41e55d4f1c38
Excerpt:
The authors used standard categories of BMI: 18.5-<25 (normal weight), 25-<30 (overweight), and >=30 (obese). The last category was further subdivided into 30-<35 (class 1), 35-<40 (class 2), and >=40 (class 3).
What they found is that, compared to normal weight individuals, those in the overweight category had a lower risk of dying of any cause, and those in the obese category had an elevated risk. However, more than half of those in the obese category were in class 1, and these individuals had no increased risk of dying compared to normal weight individuals. Class 2 and 3 individuals did have a significantly elevated risk of death.
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