Body Mass Index

What is the Body Mass Index?

BMI (Body Mass Index). What Does It Mean? What does the BMI Reading Mean? The BMI reading is currently the quickest and easiest way to measure the degree of overweight or obesity from which you may be suffering. By simply entering your height and weight you can get a great idea of your current weight status. There are many BMI calculators on the internet. The BMI is the preliminary qualifying criterion for weight loss surgery with general guidelines as follows”

BMI Calculator

BMI classifications and terminology:

BMI of 50.1 +: Super Super Morbid Obesity. Patients often have to have more than one procedure to reduce the long term weight loss and co-morbid conditions that have developed.

BMI of 40.1 – 50: Super Morbid Obesity. Patients may have significant health issues beginning and have an increased surgical risk

BMI of over 40: Morbid Obesity. Most patients will qualify for any bariatric surgical procedure regardless of diseases associated with obesity. 

BMI of 35-39.9  Severe Obesity. Patients with one or more diseases associated with obesity may qualify for a bariatric surgery procedure. 

BMI of 30-34.9 Obesity. Patients with one or more diseases associated with severe uncontrollable co-morbidities may qualify.

BMI of 25-29.9 Overweight. You will not qualify for bariatric surgery, however you may consider a medical weight loss program to return to reduce weight

BMI of 18.5-24.9 Considered normal or ideal body weight. Congratulations! Keep up the good work Considered normal or ideal body weight. Congratulations! Keep up the good work.

What Does the BMI Reading Not Mean? 

For all the usefulness that your BMI offers, there are also several important considerations to take into account when interpreting the results. First, the BMI is an approximation of your weight and co-morbid conditions only based on height and weight. Where your weight is located and your muscle mass are not calculated and may be an important factor in choosing a potential weight loss surgery. Most importantly, you should know that obesity and even morbid obesity, according to your BMI, does not necessarily mean that you will qualify for surgery. In fact, there are several pre-operative tests that you will undergo to make sure that your medical conditions are safe to consider surgical intervention. Lastly, the BMI is simply a general tool and should not be relied on to give you an exact reading. The number you see does not reflect body composition (muscle is heavier than fat) and does not differentiate by gender, which can make for a slightly different reading between men and women. The BMI does not account for age or muscle mass. One’s age and muscle mass can both raise and lower one’s body mass and not necessarily reflect on one’s health.