Body Mass Index
Body Mass Index (BMI) is used by the healthcare industry as a measurement to determine where a person is in the weight range for their height. By calculating body mass index, men and women can learn if they are underweight, normal, overweight or obese.
In the transplant process, people who are overweight or obese are more likely to develop diabetes than those with a normal BMI. For people with diabetes, a high BMI may make controlling blood glucose levels much harder. Diabetes medications and a diet and exercise plan will be important tools to manage blood sugar levels.
Keep your BMI within the normal range, especially if you are in the transplant process. Even though the disease, inactivity, diet restrictions and medications can make weight control difficult, it is still an important goal for better health. Individuals with a BMI of 30 or greater have a five-times higher risk of diabetes than people with a normal BMI of 25 or less.
Consult with your physician if you need to decrease your weight. They will be able to advise you on a safe way to incorporate diet and exercise into your healthcare plan.
To calculate your BMI using the English formula
- BMI can be calculated using pounds and inches
- BMI = (Weight in Pounds x 703) / (Height in Inches x Height in Inches)
- For example, a person who weighs 165 pounds and is 5 feet 4 inches tall has a BMI of 28.
- (165 lbs x 703) / (64 inches x 64 inches) = 28
To calculate your BMI using the Metric formula
- BMI can be calculated using kilograms and meters
- BMI = Weight in Kilograms / (Height in Meters x Height in Meters)
- For example, a person who weighs 99.79 Kilograms and is 1.905 Meters tall has a BMI of 27.5
- 99.79 Kg / (1.905 Meters x 1.905 Meters) = 27.5
Classification of Body Mass Index (BMI)
- Underweight < 18.5
- Normal 18.5 to 25
- Overweight 25 to 30
- Obese > 30