When you step on the scale, is the number a little higher than you’d like? Or is it right where you think you need to be, but your BMI says you’re overweight? The truth is, there are a lot of different ways to determine what your weight should be based on your height and physical activity. BMI used to be the gold standard; however, it isn’t always the best way to determine your health.
At Shine Health and Wellness, our team is determined to help you not only get the body you want, but also to give you the healthy body you need. Dr. Kimberly Shine has the knowledge and the tools to help you determine what weight is healthy for you.
Understanding BMI
BMI, or body mass index, is a way to tell you where you stand with your weight as it pertains to your height. Your BMI is calculated by taking your current weight and dividing it by your total height. This puts you into one of four categories, which include:
- Underweight or a BMI of 18.5 or less
- Normal weight or a BMI of 18.5 to 24.9
- Overweight or a BMI of 25 to 29.9
- Obese or a BMI of 30 or higher
Body mass index is a cheap and easy tool to use to get an idea of where you stand as far as body fat. However, BMI doesn’t actually measure the amount of fat in your body. It’s simply a tool that helps you understand where your weight falls on the scale.
Even though the BMI scale has been used for years to determine your overall health, it does have certain limitations. For example, it doesn’t take into account your muscle mass related to your weight. Because muscle weighs more than fat, your BMI reading could put you in a category into which you don’t actually fit.
Although BMI is a basic tool to help you determine if your weight is appropriate, it isn’t the most accurate when it comes to evaluating your health.
Other factors related to your weight
Your weight does, in fact, play a factor in your risk for certain diseases and your overall health. However, the science goes much deeper than that. Muscle and fat affect your body in different ways, so it’s important to understand how much of each is in your body to get a health plan in place.
Being overweight or obese does put you at risk for diseases like diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease. However, more than just your BMI plays a factor in this. Your diet, activity level, and family history all play into whether or not you’ll end up with one of these conditions.
There are more scientific ways to determine how much of your body is fat and how much is lean muscle. This helps Dr. Shine determine if your BMI is accurate and whether or not you need to lose weight or gain more muscle.
One of the ways to accurately measure the amount of fat in your body is through a DEXA scan. DEXA stands for dual energy X-ray absorptiometry. This test uses a special type of X-ray to determine the density of your bones and the amount of body fat you have. It can also determine lean muscle mass as well, which helps you figure out your overall body composition.
At our facility, Dr. Shine measures your body composition using a machine called InBody. This machine accurately determines the amount of fat and muscle in your body in under a minute. You simply hold onto electrodes and stand on the InBody machine.
Once you get your results, Dr. Shine goes over each part of your composition to determine if you’re at a healthy level when it comes to your weight. This helps you determine if your plan to lose weight is working, or if you need to take a different approach.
When you’re concerned about your weight, you need an expert to help you create a plan. Don’t hesitate to book an appointment online or over the phone with Shine Health and Wellness today.
