Body Mass Index (BMI) Measurements
What is Body Mass Index?The body mass index (BMI) is a measure that uses your height and weight to work out if your weight is healthy. BMI takes into account natural variations in body shape, giving a healthy weight range for a particular height. As well as measuring your BMI, healthcare professionals may take other factors into account when assessing if you're a healthy weight. For example muscle is much denser than fat, so very muscular people, such as heavyweight boxers, weight trainers and athletes, may be a healthy weight even though their BMI is classed as obese.
For most adults, an ideal BMI is in the 18.5 to 24.9 range.
If your BMI is:
• below 18.5 – you're in the underweight range
• between 18.5 and 24.9 – you're in the healthy weight range
• between 25 and 29.9 – you're in the overweight range
• between 30 and 39.9 – you're in the obese range
How does the BMI service work?
One of our highly trained staff will have a private consultation with you in order to calculate and discuss your current BMI. If necessary the pharmacist will offer advice on how to achieve and maintain a healthier BMI.
Why is it important to monitor my BMI?
The World Health Organisation lists a high BMI as a major risk factor for heart disease, stroke, bone and joint problems including osteoarthritis and a number of cancers, including breast, colon and endometrial cancer. Maintaining a healthy weight is vital to achieve overall health and long life.