Body Mass Index (BMI) - How Accurate?

Body mass index (BMI) or Quetelet Index is a widely-used statistical measure of a person's weight in proportion to height. It was invented over 100 years ago, and is frequently used in assessing the fitness level of individuals or populations. The BMI calculation renders a value called a BMI Index that is used to rate how close a subject is to the "ideal" weight.

For example, surveys that show the increasing levels of obesity in America are usually based on BMI index, as follows:

BMI > 30 = OBESE

BMI 25-30 = OVERWEIGHT

BMI 18-25 = NORMAL

BMI < 18 = UNDERWEIGHT

How does the calculation work?

BMI is calculated as 703 * (weight in pounds / height in inches squared).

So, for a person who is 5'10 and weighs 200 lbs, the BMI would be calculated as follows:

703 * (200 / 4900) = 28.7... This person would be considered OVERWEIGHT, nearly obese.

There are, however, problems with this formula. One of the problems is that there can be a substantial variance in what constitutes "ideal weight" from person to person. For example, the BMI calculation does not take into account persons with dense muscle mass. So, someone who does extensive strength training and has developed muscle mass may in fact have a BMI that indicates he or she is overweight even though the person may be very fit with low body fat.

In fact, we know several extremely fit people with BMIs in the high 20s, but whose body fat is approaching the level of professional athletes! Their body weight is relatively high in proportion to their height because they carry substantial muscular weight.

So, how useful is the BMI indicator?

The BMI index is not a one-size-fits-all wellness indicator. And like any other measure of fitness it needs to be used within context, along with other metrics such as blood pressure, cholesterol level, body fat percentage, and cardiovascular efficiency.

If your BMI is outside the "normal" range, it's a good idea to assess your other fitness metrics when determining whether you are at your ideal weight. But as with any other fitness metric, BMI can be misleading or even useless when evaluated in a vacuum.

Pete Bellisano is a certified personal trainer and owner of Peak Performance Fitness in Berkeley Heights NJ. Peak clients are achieving outstanding results losing weight and improving overall fitness, through our unique approach to Fitness For Real People. Visit our site to see what our clients have to say about their success, and to pick up your free fitness info. http://www.peakperformancenj.com

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Metabolism-3 Steps In The Right Direction

Is it really possible to speed up your metabolism? Yes, your body's metabolism is usually fairly stable but there are some things you can do to speed it up. Revving up your metabolism rate to burn more calories is one of the keys to weight loss success. Other things that contribute to speeding up your metabolism are working out, your meals, and your mood. This article will offer 3 things on what you can do to help speed up your metabolism.

1) Working out- Now this can be at a gym or at home. In Most cases this will be at a gym where you will have access to several weights training equipment to exercise the different parts of the body. Of course we all know that weight training is going to build muscle. But, as you are building your muscle up you are also speeding up the metabolism. The more energy you burn while exercising the more your metabolism works. One thing to be aware of though is you will notice that your appetite will increase. This is normal, because you are using more energy and what you will need to do is eat some healthy snacks throughout the day.

2) Meals- This is important, eating every 3-4 hours will help in keeping your metabolism going. Eating erratically signals the body to burn at a slower pace. If your not able to eat meals in this matter then you would be better off having smaller balanced meals and snacks throughout the day. The trick in losing more fat than muscle is to eat more balanced nutritional meals and exercise which promote an average of 1-2 pounds of weight loss per week.

3) Moods- Did you know what you eat influences mood and metabolism? Foods high in sugar, saturated fat, artificial sweeteners and low in water will slow down digestion and cause you to feel sluggish along with weight gain. If you want to have more energy eat foods that consist of whole grains, vegetables, fresh herbs, fruits. These provide proteins, carbohydrates, and fats that give you energy.

For longer lasting energy eat more of seeds, nuts, and soybeans. Foods that are better for digestion are white meat poultry, lean meats, low-fat dairy products, and foods that contain fiber.

Drink at least 8 glasses of water each day and you will have less gas, your stomach and intestines will empty better. Staying hydrated will also reduce headaches and fights fatigue.

You will also need to have a great deal of patients as it may take as long as 3 months before your metabolism will start changing. Just be persistent and have confidence that you will do it. Keep a regular routine of having easy meals and snacks available and spreading your calorie intake throughout the day as this will give you lasting energy levels for a longer period of time.

Want to learn more about metabolism and weight loss? Click here.

About the Author

Terry Wade has helped hundreds to reach their weight loss and fitness goals. Be sure to get a free copy of

Fat To Fitness ebook by going here, http://fat-to-fitness.com

Foods to Lose Weight Rapidly

With the obesity rate in America at an extremely high level, many people are looking into diets to help them lose weight. It is easy to choose, prepare, and eat lose weight rapidly foods, but the trouble comes when you have to stick with the diet. This article will go over the types of foods you should eat and how to make sure you stay on the diet.

The first thing you should do before you even look into a diet, is to get your mind set on a goal. You are going to need to be focused 100% on your end goal. You need to create a plan to reach that goal and be successful. You need to get your mind ready for the sacrifices you are going to need to make to get the results you want, before you even go after any food.

You are going to need to cut things out of your normal routine. Things like dinners out, visits to McDonald's and other restaurants, and going to the bar with your friends, are now going to be off limits if you want to lose weight rapidly.

If you are truly passionate about losing weight than you will find that your craving for lose weight rapidly foods will be much stronger than your craving for junk food. Most people will be shocked at how quickly they manage to get to their goals because they are able to stick with their diet.

To lose weight quickly you are going to need to eliminate fat, cut calories down by reducing your food intake and eating lower energy foods, and reduce foods that take awhile to burn. For even better results you should just consider removing all processed foods from your diet.

A great way to get a jumpstart on losing weight and save money is to go with the most natural and basic foods. They will help you get the best results, but this is an unpopular option because these foods do not taste the best.

The foods that you should be eating are fruits, vegetables, seafood, and lean meats. You should also eat slow-release forms of carbs like pasta, brown bread, potatoes, and brown rice.

The topic of lose weight rapidly foods is a very wide topic, with much information and many suggestions. This article should give you the basic idea so that you can get out there and begin to lose weight!

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Dieting - Natural Supplements

When people think of a 'diet' they think of reducing the intake of food into their bodies. This may be part of it, because as we know, obesity has risen to epidemic levels. But the word diet means a couple of , somewhat related, but different meanings.

It can mean the foods eaten by a group or culture. It's widely known that the Japanese culture traditionally eat a lot of rice and fish, raw and cooked. Also that North American's are some of the biggest consumers of red meat. True vegetarians of course, do not eat meat of any kind. A true vegetarian will not even eat eggs. These are just a couple of examples, there are many more of course.

Diet can also mean the foods that a person or group habitually eat. As we can tell in North America, fast food has become a raging debate. It can be addictive, the same as tobacco, narcotics and such, so there is a group that may be habitual about eating fast food. Fast food, and processed foods are the main causes for the obesity epidemic today.

This epidemic will get worse before it gets better because we must start at the root of the problem. Educating kids in eating a proper diet, in all 4 food groups. Not only that, we must now start to educate kids and adults in looking into to all the great natural supplements that can dramatically improve ones health and quality of life.

It's a proven fact that most people do not get enough nutrients in the foods that they eat, so it only makes sense to supplement what we are lacking with natural products. Because natural product supplements are considered food, they are not regulated by the same standards as pharmaceuticals, the FDA, you must be careful when choosing yours. There are many that claim to have the cure for a common cold and numerous home health remedies, so do your research!

Moderation in everything you do, including what you eat, and regular exercise are the keys to a healthier quality of life You don't have to give up fast food altogether, just eat it once or twice a month, instead of once or twice a week, or every day as some do. Remember, just because these natural supplement products can not claim to treat or cure any disease, most of the quality products have scientific proof that back them up.

Ron Richardson is an online entrepreneur and by my writing I hope to inspire, encourage, help and teach people to live a balanced life, health, wealth and happiness naturally: See what Jonathon Paplebon of the World Champion Boston Red Sox Said is a Key to His Success: http://myacspage.com/AcaiBerrySupplements.htm

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The Cause and Effect of Obesity

The over simplified view of the cause and effect of obesity would be over-eating combined with lack of exercise. Both are justifiably implicated. We are all responsible for the volume of food we eat, and portion reduction is a starting point for any dietary change. It requires little more effort than saying no when offered the "large" or "max" option.

However, there are far more sinister reasons for nations getting fat. If it were just a case of over indulgence we would not be looking at the huge rise in the obesity levels within the US and many other societies.

So what's in your food?

Do you read...and understand the label?

Saturated fat, hydrogenated fat, monounsaturated fat, polyunsaturated fat...are they good or bad?

These are questions you should know the answers to if you are going to take responsibility for your own welfare. Many countries have introduced food-labeling regulations, which now provide more detailed ingredients lists, but these are still often confusing and unclear.

Education is the answer to the problem. The big question is how do you educate an entire population and who is going to pay? Who would fund such a nationwide advertising campaign? Until governments take the initiative by introducing dietary advise as part of the school curriculum we are going to see the rates of obesity continue to increase year on year.

We can take it as read that over abundance and lack of clear education are the primary causes of obesity, for where abundance does not prevail, there is little sign of obesity. In fact where the western world is seeing increased food related morbidity, the third world continues to suffer deprivation and malnutrition.

Obesity is not a hidden problem, but society fails to tackle it head on. Fashion shops for the larger person continue to flourish and fashions change to accommodate the fuller figure. Unfortunately size is not the only issue, as obesity gives rise to or even masks many other health related illnesses such as:

· Heart disease and high blood pressure
· Diabetes type 2 (adult onset)
· Renal failure
· Colon Cancer
· Strokes

The above list and many other physical and physiological problems are clearly related to obesity.

The starting point for beating your own and your family's weight problems is to accept that the problem exists. If you decide to bury your head in the sand and fail to take decisive action, no one can help you. If you are ready to seek the help and advice, read and act upon what you have read.

Seeking out a nutritionist is a great route to take. They can offer clear advice on the lifestyle changes you need to make to get back on track and fight the cause and effect of obesity

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Bulimia - Recognize and Treat Today

Bulimia is a type of a psychological disorder characterized by a person's erroneous eating patterns. It is also referred to as bulimia nervosa, which is a common problem among teens and women, although several males may develop it too. A person who is suffering from this disorder tend to eat too much during meal times but go to extreme heights to remove the same food he or she had taken. The bulimic may induce vomiting or use strong diuretics or laxatives in the process. They may suddenly decide to fast or skip meals altogether, or counter what they have eaten with too much rigorous exercise.

Signs and Symptoms

Aside from eating uncontrollably, the signs of bulimia include vomiting blood, purging, depression, mood swings, and feeling out of control. Persons who have it may also experience heartburn, bloating, indigestion, constipation, irregular periods, dental problems, sore throats, weakness, and exhaustion. Bulimic patients normally have bloodshot eyes.

Causes

Bulimia is caused by different factors but most of them are psychological in nature. It maybe caused by stress, depression, and self-esteem problems. Bulimia may also arise out of one's dissatisfaction of his or her body size. These people either have the fear of becoming fat or they can only see themselves to be fat no matter how much weight they have already lost.

Complication

Bulimia is a very dangerous concern so it has to be treated the moment it is diagnosed. Psychiatrists play a very important role in correcting the behavior and eating patterns of these individuals. The minor complications of bulimia include dental problems, soreness of the salivary glands, and decrease in libido. The major complications of this disease are stomach ulcers and ruptures, intestinal fluids, irregular bowel movement, electrolyte imbalance, dehydration, and irregular heartbeat. In more severe cases, heart attack may occur. People suffering from bulimia tend to have a suicidal nature, as they are always depressed and frustrated with the things around them.

Treatment

The treatment of bulimia is conducted by a psychiatrist specializing in the disorder. If physical changes in the body are apparent, the patient is advised to go to a medical doctor first for physical evaluation so that the necessary drugs can be given. After which, a series of consultations with a psychiatrist is in order, so that he can assess the severity of the problem and proceed to the right behavioral therapy to correct it.

Treating bulimia is a process completed gradually in a long period of time. Regardless of any kind of treatment to be administered, the cooperation of the patient is essential in the process. There should be the drive on the person for him or her to get away from it. With the medical and psychological expertise of the doctor, treating bulimia yields positive results.

Jack L Bloom is the owner of http://www.dietstepbystep.com. For more information about diet for bulimia visit http://www.dietstepbystep.com/weight_loss/bulimia.aspx.

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