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[av_heading heading=’THE DOCTOR IS IN ‘ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=” av-medium-font-size-title=” av-small-font-size-title=” av-mini-font-size-title=” av-medium-font-size=” av-small-font-size=” av-mini-font-size=” admin_preview_bg=”]
BY JESSICA SEGOVIA-YAP, MD
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MOST people, Filipinos especially, gain a pound or two or more over the holidays. Some of us, however, don’t know how far those pounds went.
We have some parameters as screening tools to measure whether we have normal weight or otherwise.
BODY MASS INDEX (BMI)
Body mass index is used to determine whether you are in a healthy weight range for your height, or in short, weight against your height. This is a useful tool for people over 18 years old. But it is only an estimate and it doesn’t take into account age, ethnicity, gender, and body composition.
BMI is one type of inexpensive and easy to perform tool that helps assess the patient’s risk for chronic diseases. Although BMI does not measure body fat completely, research has shown that it is moderately correlated with more direct measures of body fat such as skinfold thickness measurements and the like. In short, a high BMI can be an indicator of high body fatness.
BMI is calculated by dividing your weight (in kilograms) by your height (in meters squared). It gives you an idea whether you’re “underweight”, a “healthy” weight, “overweight”, or obese for your height.
BMI is one type of tool that helps us assess the patient’s risk for chronic diseases such as hypertension, diabetes and cardiovascular diseases.
If your BMI is below 18, you are underweight. A BMI between 19-23 range is considered normal; 24-29 is overweight; 30-39 is obese 1, and 40 up is obese 2. The levels may vary slightly especially considering the different racial body types. But for Asians, which are smaller built, this is the preferred range.
If you find it difficult to compute for your BMI manually, you can download the BMI calculator online.
WAIST CIRCUMFERENCE
Waist circumference is also considered a good estimate of your body fat, especially your internal fat deposits, as well as your likelihood of developing weight-related diseases.
So why is it important to measure waist circumference? Carrying excess body fat around your middle is more of a health risk than if the weight is in your hips or thighs since waist circumference is a better estimate of visceral fat, the dangerous internal fat that coats the organs. It is therefore a more accurate predictor of cardiovascular risk and metabolic syndrome.
You can measure your waist circumference by placing the tape measure directly on your skin or over no more than one layer of light clothing. The correct place to measure is halfway between your lowest rib and the top of your hipbone. You may use your belly button as your point of reference. Breathe out normally and measure. The tape should just be snug and not too tight to squeeze your skin.
For women, your risk is increased with a waist circumference of 80 centimeters (cm) or more. Your risk is high at 88 cm or more.
For men, your risk is increased at 94 cm or more and high if it is 102cm or more.
So if by using these methods you discovered that you are already overweight, or worse, obese, then you really need to change your lifestyle and it is time again to visit your doctor for a work up.
I don’t want to sound like a killjoy in this season of partying and eating, I just want this to serve as a friendly reminder. May we all have a blessed and healthy Christmas and a much healthier New Year!
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Jessica P. Segovia-Yap, M.D., FPAFP is a Diplomate and Fellow of the Philippine Academy of Family Physicians. She is a practicing Family Medicine Specialist and holds clinic at the Medical Arts Building of Iloilo Mission Hospital. For comments, questions and suggestions, you may email at drjec.is.in@ gmail.com./PN
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