What Is a BMI Ratio?
BMI, or Body Mass Index, is a ratio of weight to height. BMI is defined as weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared. Doctors and other health care professionals use BMI as an indicator of potential health risks.
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Definition
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Adults with a BMI of under 18.5 are considered underweight, or have too little body weight for their height. A BMI between 18.5 and 24.9 is in the healthy range, 25 to 29.9 is considered overweight, and anything greater than that indicates obesity.
Consequences
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Numerous studies have shown that overweight and obese individuals have a higher rate of cardiovascular disease, according to the American Heart Association. Other conditions related to higher BMI ratios include Type 2 diabetes and hypertension.
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Global Problem
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The incidence of overweight and obesity have been climbing globally, according to the World Health Organization. The number of overweight adults worldwide is more than 1 billion. Of these, about 300 million are obese. Not only that, about 22 million children under the age of 5 are now believed to be overweight.
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