About 365,000 deaths each year in the United States are linked to a body mass index (BMI) reading greater than 30? With close to 40% of all American adults and nearly 50% of Hispanic and black Americans at an unhealthy BMI, it’s clear that understanding your BMI matters.
At New Life Medical & Aesthetics in Bakersfield, California, we understand the importance of knowing your BMI. And with millions of Americans struggling with their weight, we understand the frustration that unsuccessful weight loss brings.
Along with frustration, an unhealthy BMI brings an increased risk of many serious medical conditions. That’s why Nirav Naik, MD, FACS, and our highly skilled team of weight loss and aesthetic specialists offer tools and services to educate you about BMI and help you lose those unhealthy pounds.
Read on to learn why you should care about your BMI and how we can help you reach a healthy number.
Your BMI, or body mass index, is a number that expresses your size as the relationship between your height and weight. It doesn’t take into account your sex, bone structure or body frame, cardiovascular indicators, or age. BMI also doesn’t reveal your body percent fat.
BMI ranges are broken down as follows:
The easiest way to learn your BMI is to use an online calculator, like the one Dr. Naik offers on our website. You can also calculate your BMI by following this formula: (your weight in pounds x 703) / (your height in inches x your height in inches).
Since BMI is a single measurement and doesn’t provide extra information, such as body percent fat, some people dismiss it as unimportant. Studies show this could be dangerous: Along with conditions like Type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and cancer, high BMI correlates with many other health problems, like arthritis, kidney and liver diseases, and sleep disorders. Carrying excess weight also negatively impacts you emotionally and slows you down physically, making everyday tasks difficult.
Losing weight is an important first step to take if your BMI is 25 or higher. As your weight decreases, your risk of weight-related illnesses decreases as well. As you start to look and feel better, you experience other benefits, too. For example, expect your self-confidence to soar, energy to increase, sleep to improve, and more.
If you’ve unsuccessfully tried to lose weight through diet and exercise, with or without the support of a physician, you may benefit from weight loss surgery. If you have a medical condition that impacts your ability to exercise or lose weight, weight loss surgery may also be for you.
This surgery, which is sometimes called bariatric surgery, reduces the space available in your stomach, limiting the amount of food you can eat at one time. It can also change the way your body absorbs food, helping you slim down faster.
You may be a good candidate for weight loss surgery if you have a BMI of 30 or higher and have struggled to lose weight with diet, exercise, and other lifestyle modifications. At New Life Medical & Aesthetics, Dr. Naik first completes an overall health evaluation and examination of your medical record during your comprehensive preoperative consultation.
Dr. Naik then designs a program that meets your unique needs to help you safely and effectively reach your goal weight. There are different types of weight loss surgery procedures, and Dr. Naik works with you to determine the best option to ensure your success.
If you’re ready to learn more about your BMI and lose those extra pounds for good, Dr. Naik and the team at New Life Medical & Aesthetics can help. Our compassionate care team provides you with the tools you need to understand your number so you can get on track to good health.
Call our Bakersfield office or request an appointment online today!
