Posted - October 3, 2014

BMI: What is it and why does it matter

Adjusting to Workouts after Bariatric Surgery in Plano

BMI – What is it?

BMI or Body Mass Index is calculated using a person’s weight and height and is an indicator used globally to indicate the level of “fatness” or obesity in a person. Some may view it as just another number but this one number can decide how many more years you can expect from your life! With its ever increasing love for fast food and inactive lifestyle, the United States has the second highest average BMI in the world after Kuwait – that is not something to be proud of. The higher the BMI, the higher the level of obesity which leads to a lower life expectancy.

What is my BMI?

So how does BMI affect life expectancy? Before getting to that, we need to ask – what is your BMI. BMI can be calculated by entering the weight and height values in a BMI calculator. BMI between 18 and 25 is considered to be healthy but anything above that is a sign of looming danger which can create havoc in your older years. BMI over 25 indicates that the person has more body mass than considered healthy. Higher body weight translates into several medical problems such as increased blood pressure and hypertension which directly affect life expectancy. A BMI over 40 means that you have 8-13 years less in your life as compared to your peers who have a healthy BMI value. Hence, the answer to “what is my BMI?” decides the number of years in your life. chart

What can I do to reduce my BMI?

The most common reasons behind increased BMI are sedentary lifestyle and overeating. Daily stress also results into an increase in BMI as most people tend to eat fatty and sugary foods when feeling stressed or depressed. While regular physical exercise and balanced diet are the best ways to maintain a healthy BMI, what can you do if you already have a very high BMI?

This is where weight loss procedures such as the Duodenal switch come to the rescue! Duodenal switch, also referred to as DS, is a commonly practiced medical procedure for weight loss which aims at reducing the size of the stomach and reducing the amount of food getting digested and absorbed inside the body. It is considered to be one of the most effective weight loss surgeries and provides reliable and long lasting results.

Duodenal switch is highly recommended for those who have high BMI. It not only helps in lowering the BMI but also controls subsequent weight gain. However, this doesn’t mean that you can get back to overeating post surgery. Duodenal switch is just an effective proactive measure to lower the BMI and control it. It needs to be followed up with a healthy and active lifestyle for long lasting happiness.

What is Your BMI?

Use our BMI Calculator to check your BMI. You can contact us for a free consultation on next steps in your journey to weight loss.


ATTENTION patients of Dr. Al-Kalla

Dr. Al-Kalla will be leaving Weight Loss Specialists of North Texas at the end of July. If you would like continue as his patient, please let us know and we can assist in getting your medical records transferred.

You may also choose to stay with Weight Loss Specialists of North Texas and we’ll gladly transfer your care to another provider on staff.

Thank you.