Knowing your Body Mass Index (BMI) when contacting us about our weight loss procedures is crucial. Utilising our user-friendly online calculator is recommended for this purpose. While BMI is just one aspect of your evaluation, having this information allows us to initiate the appropriate discussion.
Less Than 18.5 – Underweight
Depending on how underweight you are, you may need to put on some weight for the sake of your health. Your doctor or dietician will advise you on how to gain weight to ensure you are in a healthy weight range.
18.5 to 25 – Normal Weight
This is the ideal BMI to show that you’re in a healthy weight range. If you are within this weight range, you significantly reduce the chance of developing serious health problems.
25 to 30 – Overweight
You may be advised to lose weight to improve your health within this BMI range. Being overweight can negatively impact your overall health.
30 to 40+ – Obese
You’re at great risk of developing serious health problems if you are obese. A BMI over 30 shows that you are heavily overweight, and your doctor or dietician will strongly encourage you to take steps to lose weight.
Carrying excess weight can profoundly impact your health and place stress on the functioning of multiple bodily systems. Among the health conditions associated with being overweight are elevated cholesterol levels, which can increase the risk of plaque buildup in the arteries and contribute to cardiovascular issues such as heart disease and stroke.
High blood pressure, another common consequence of excess weight, strains the heart and blood vessels, raising the risk of heart attack and other cardiovascular complications. The risk of developing osteoarthritis, sleep apnea, hypertension, cancer, hormone imbalances and reproductive issues also increases significantly if you are overweight.
By measuring your body fat levels, we can gain valuable insights into your current weight status and overall health. This information empowers you to take proactive steps toward achieving and maintaining a healthy weight, reducing the risk of numerous health complications and enhancing your overall well-being.
To be eligible for weight loss surgery, a patient needs to have:
- A BMI of at least 40, or;
- A BMI of over 35 and suffering from at least one serious health concern related to obesity
- A BMI of 32 and suffering from at least one chronic pain that affects quality of life
It’s important to consider that the BMI calculator may not provide the most accurate weight assessment for every individual. Athletes, for instance, should avoid relying solely on BMI measurements due to their increased muscle mass compared to the average person. BMI fails to distinguish between muscle and fat, thus offering an incomplete picture of their body composition.
Similarly, pregnant or lactating women may receive misleading BMI readings. Pregnancy and breastfeeding can cause fluctuations in weight and body composition, rendering BMI calculations less reliable for this demographic. Children and adolescents under the age of 18 are also cautioned against using BMI as the sole indicator of weight status. During these formative years, they experience rapid growth and development, making BMI less reflective of their overall health and weight trajectory.
