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Among the methods doctors commonly use for diagnosing obesity is a calculation known as body mass index (BMI). For most people, this number serves as a good estimate of their total body fat. Much research has estab- lished a healthy ratio of body weight to height. The ratio is usually referred to as the BMI. The use of BMI allows doctors to assess the health of patients of all heights. In terms of health, research has indicated that a healthy BMI ranges between 19 and 24, while a BMI between 30 and 34 is considered obese. Anything above 34 is thought to be morbidly obese and in great danger of health problems. The stress placed on internal organs rises as weight increases, and health problems begin as a result. Although BMI is a useful tool for assessing obesity, it has its drawbacks. The limitations of BMI are apparent when we consider that most athletes are not obese even though they are heavy. BMI Thankfully, doctors have other tools at their disposal they can use to assess the condition of a patient with a high BMI. Waist measurement, for example, tends to be a very good indicator of patient body mass. When the waist measurements are combined with BMI calcula- tions, a very good picture of the health of the patient can be created. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has published a chart calculations tend to overestimate the percentage of body fat in athletes, and underestimate the percentage in older people, who have lost muscle mass over the years.

According to BMI calculations, more than 69 percent of the American population are obese or overweight.

14 / Surgery & Medicine for Weight Loss

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