High standards of figures imposed by television, fashion and glossy magazines added to the fairer sex complexes about their bodies. Sometimes even slender women feel complete without piling on the notorious 44 or 42 size. However, they do not consider the peculiarities of their build, bone structure, the ratio of height and weight. For an objective assessment of the ratio of weight to height Belgian mathematician A. Quetelet proposed to assess the weight of the so-called body mass index, or BMI (body mass index) in the English version. Thanks to the proposed coefficients, which are calculated according to the formula, it was possible to determine whether the weight of a normal person, or a person it negative or excess.

Body mass index is calculated by the formula: weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared. The value of BMI is used in adult age range of 20-65 years for the diagnosis of obesity and to determine nutritional status. Children method of calculating the body mass index does not apply. Determination of BMI, especially in severe stages of obese plays an important role in the selection methods of treatment of pathological conditions which can induce a variety of chronic noninfectious diseases: diabetes Diabetes , Hypertension, diseases of the cardiovascular system, gallstones, asthma, diseases of the joints Arthronosos   and other diseases. However, high values ​​of BMI may indicate an increased risk of complications and even death.

The average normal body mass index is considered to be its value in the range of 19-25, and the standard value of the same concerns of both women and men .  With such a body mass index of people reduces the risk of chronic diseases, there is a great feeling, no fatigue .  In excess BMI and its value in the range from 25 to 30, we are talking about the presence of excess weight .  It can provoke the development of hypertension and cardiovascular disease, affects the quality of life and self-esteem .  In this case, you need to think about the gradual physiological weight loss, which can be achieved through a balanced diet, which is being developed together with a nutritionist .  Body mass index above 30 is indicative of obesity .  To stabilize and reduce the weight of experts may be appointed special preparations, which take on a background of a healthy diet and moderate physical load .

If weight gain is a serious burden on the heart and causes the development of chronic diseases, the body mass index less than 18, 5 indicates a lack of body weight, which can also adversely affect health .  At low BMI increases the risk of infectious diseases as well as diseases of the gastrointestinal tract .  If the background of a low body mass index attempts to lose weight even more, it is fraught with serious consequences such as a lack of minerals and the development of osteoporosis .  At the same BMI below 18, 5 shows the first degree malnutrition, body mass index less than 17, 5 - to the second degree, and less than 16 - on the third-degree malnutrition .  BMI below 15 may indicate a pronounced deficiency of body weight and possible anorexia .  Errors in the measurement of body mass index options in the event of its calculation for professional athletes, whose muscle tissue is much higher than fat, as a result of constant training, and the elderly, because after forty years, begins a gradual decrease in muscle tissue and increase fat .

For a normal state of health and vitality of good body weight should correspond to growth out of standards and maintained at normal levels throughout life, with the change in body weight indicates a change in the balance between energy consumption and consumed. In addition to body mass index overall health depends on good nutrition, regular exercise, hereditary factors, blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol Cholesterin   in blood.

Natalia Biatova

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