It also goes without saying that the higher the BMI, the more severe the obesity in an individual. Each category is characterized by a range of BMI values. A high BMI has been related to an increased risk for diseases such as type 2 diabetes and heart disease.Īccording to a publication by The Lancet Public health in February 2019, data analysis has determined that a high BMI, which would indicate obesity, in young adults has been linked to influencing the prevalence of the following types of cancer Therefore, upholding a normal BMI should be a priority for adults. The impacts of BMI can cross over to a person’s workplace as some companies can list you under a health group with a high risk which consequently would affect your insurance rate.Įven though BMI is not the only weight factor known to increase a person’s risk of health problems, it has been determined to be a contributing factor. However, people with a high or low BMI should consult their physician where they can undertake additional health screenings for conditions such as high blood pressure or high cholesterol. Obese persons were estimated to pay $1429 more than people with a normal weight that same year.Īccording to CDC, BMI should not be used to characterize body fat or diagnose health conditions as BMI has been linked to certain diseases, which is to some extent and not fully. The impact of this fact is that in 2008 obesity was estimated to cost the United States 147 billion dollars in healthcare. For example, using BMI, the Centres for Disease Control (CDC) estimates that over a third (1/3) of the adult population in America is obese. It is used in the medical fraternity to determine if people have a normal weight or they are overweight, underweight, or obese. BMI is an abbreviation for Body Mass Index.Ī measure of weight that illustrates the relationship between weight and height.

Body mass index calculator printable