Building Healthy Weight - BMI/Body Mass Index

 In a realm where fleeting weight loss trends dominate, the enduring wisdom of Oriental medicine illuminates a holistic approach to cultivating well-being. 

Rooted in ancient philosophies and practices, this perspective transcends the mere physicality of weight management, delving into the interconnected realms of body, mind, and spirit.

As we learn anything there is to know about weight management, we go across the rich texture of TCM and other therapeutic systems as we discover on this adventure. 

In the middle of these antiquated methods, we also recognize the value of modern measurements as a comprehensive route towards long-term health and vitality, connecting traditional knowledge with contemporary understanding.

         

What can be your ideal weight? 

First, determine your overall health. Obesity/overweight can bring hypertension, diabetes, cardiovascular disorders and vice versa.

Meanwhile, a growing number of women and youngsters are getting underweight, which cause infertilty and underweight child births. 

BMI /Body Mass Index, which dates back to the middle of the 1800s, is a fundamental component of modern health assessment. Adolphe Quetelet, a Belgian polymath, developed BMI in the 1830s as a result of his groundbreaking research on human morphology and statistical analysis. 

Originally developed as the Quetelet Index, BMI was refined over the ensuing decades to become the widely accepted measure that it is today. By the middle of the 20th century, body mass index (BMI) had been widely accepted in the medical community as a standard technique for assessing weight status and calculating body fatness from height and weight.

This straightforward numerical instrument, which is now essential to clinical practice and public health initiatives, offers fundamental insights into population health trends and individual health risks, influencing conversations about obesity, metabolic health, and disease prevention. 

In examining the comprehensive aspects of weight control, we recognize the historical influence of BMI as a valuable indicator that still shapes our knowledge of health and wellness today.

So, how to measure your healthy weight? By Body Mass Index = weight (Kg)/Height (m)²

Using an example, a woman with a height of 162cm & a weight of 80Kg

        BMI – 80/1.62x1.62= 30.48 – overweight

Based on BMI, a women’s ideal weight range for her height of 162cm is      between 48.5kg and 60 kg      

Healthy weight ranges from 18.5-24.9, which lowers the chance of chronic illnesses. What about underweight? It is when the BMI is less than 18.5. 

According to the WHO BMI panel:

       Underweight < 18.5

       Healthy weight 18.5 – 24.9

       Overweight > or = 25

       Pre-obesity  25.0 – 29.9

       Stage I in obesity 30.0 – 34.9

       Stage II 35.0 – 39.9

       Stage III > or = 40 

                        Factors impacting on Weight change

Weight gain corresponds with calorie intake, whereas weight loss occurs when calorie input is less than calorie consumption. A study found that underweight people are more likely to experience secondary problems from underlying diseases. 

Factors such as current medications, underlying ailments, genetics, amount and quality of sleep, even living conditions and income levels can influence weight gain or loss.

A study from Boston medical school also found that chemicals used in agriculture, additives in processed foods, materials in dishes & table wears all had an impact on weight growth or reduction.

                                                  Staying Healthy

Every day the three basic components of good health are regular exercise, a balanced diet, and stress management. A road map for long-term well-being is frequently provided by the integration of traditional knowledge and contemporary ideas in the quest for maximum health and vitality. 

We can also remember that weight management is a comprehensive process that recognizes the profound interdependence of body, mind, and spirit, going beyond quick and superficial fixes by embracing therapeutic tools such as acupuncture, herbal remedies, and mindful movement practices like Qi Gong.

Related Post

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10383423/ Health risk and underweight

https://www.center4research.org/chemicals-environment-cause-weight-gain/#:~:text=Chemicals%20can%20cause%20the%20body,as%20a%20child%20or%20adult.Do chemicals in our environment cause weight gain? 

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK221834/#:~:text=The%20individual%20has%20no%20control,some%20environmental%20and%20social%20factors. Factors that influence body weight

https://www.who.int/europe/news-room/fact-sheets/item/a-healthy-lifestyle---who-recommendations A healthy lifestyle: Who Recommendations