What is a Healthy BMI Range?
What Are Healthy BMI Measurements?
Individuals with a BMI that is less than 18.5 fall in the underweight range. Those with a BMI that is between 25 and 29.9 are in the overweight range, while those with a BMI of 30 or more are in the obese range. A healthy range for a BMI measurement falls between 18.5 and 24.9. Keep in mind that these same measurement categories apply to women and men who are at least 20 years old.
What Are the Health Risks of a High & Low BMI?
Doctors use BMI as an indicator that an individual might be at risk of developing certain health conditions. Some of the health issues that you might face if you have a high BMI include increased risks of diabetes, heart disease, and cancer. Other health risks include liver disease, high blood pressure, stroke, and osteoarthritis. Having a BMI that’s too low is also associated with certain health risks, such as bone loss, heart problems, lower immunity, and iron deficiency anemia.
Your doctor will take other factors into consideration, such as your family history and your diet, to provide you with a more accurate assessment of the health risks you might be facing if you do not have a healthy BMI.
How to Prevent a High BMI
You can lower your risk of having a high BMI by keeping your body fat in a healthy range. Exercising regularly and eating a healthy diet are effective ways to maintain a healthy BMI range. If you already have a high BMI, exercise regularly and maintain a diet of vegetables, fruits, and whole nutritious foods. These changes can help you lose excess body fat and lower your risk of health complications.
If you would like to find out more about BMI and how it affects your health, schedule a consultation with the experts at Weight Loss and Wellness Center. Our center is dedicated to helping our clients achieve their weight loss goals.
Dr. Saniea F. Majid, MD, FACS, FASMBS, is our founder, director, and award-winning surgeon with more than 10 years of experience treating patients. She is the President of the New Jersey state chapter of ASMBS, a member of the Board of Directors at New Jersey Doctor-Patient Alliance, and Chair of the Post Operative Weight Recurrence Task Force (POWER). Dr. Majid has devoted her life to helping people like you lose weight and transform their lives and not only started and directed the Metabolic and Bariatric Center at Saint Michaels Medical Center but also achieved the National Center of Excellence. Dr. Majid is one of only three bariatric doctors and surgeons featured in the 2023 Healthy Living magazine published by NJ Top Docs. She is also a regular guest speaker for the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS) where she trains bariatric surgeons on the latest methods and techniques.