Risk factors for disease associated with obesity.
These include high blood pressure, high LDL or
‘‘bad’’ cholesterol
Low HDL or ‘‘good’’ cholesterol
High blood glucose (sugar)
High triglycerides
Family history of cardiovascular disease
Low physical activity level
Cigarette smokingPrecautions
BMI is very accurate when defining characteris-
tics of populations, but less accurate when applied to
individuals. However, because it is inexpensive and
easy to determine BMI is widely used. Calculating
BMI requires a scale, a measuring rod, and the ability
to do simple arithmetic or use a calculator. Potential
limitations of BMI when applied to individuals are:
BMI does not distinguish between fat and muscle.
BMI tends to overestimate the degree of ‘‘fatness’’
among elite athletes in sports such as football,
weightlifting, and bodybuilding. Since muscle weighs
more than fat, many athletes who develop heavily
muscled bodies are classified as overweight, even
though they have a low percentage of body fat and
are in top physical condition.
BMI tends to underestimate the degree of fatness in
the elderly as muscle and bone mass is lost and
replaced by fat for the same reason it overestimates
fatness in athletes.
BMI makes no distinction between body types. Peo-
ple with large frames (big boned) are held to the same
standards as people with small frames.
BMI weight classes have absolute cut-offs, while in
many cases health risks change gradually along with
changing BMIs. A person with a BMI of 24.9 is
classified as normal weight, while one with a BMI
of 25.1 is overweight. In reality, their health risks
may be quite similar.
BMI does not take into consideration diseases or
drugs that may cause significant water retention.
BMI makes no distinction between genders, races, or
ethnicities. Two people with the same BMI may have
different health risks because of their gender or
genetic heritage.
BMI is a comparative index and does not measure
the amount of body fat directly. Other methods do
give a direct measure of body fat, but these methods
generally are expensive and require specialized equip-
ment and training to be performed accurately. Among
them are measurement of skin fold thickness, under-water (hydrostatic) weighing, bioelectrical impedance,
and dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA). Com-
bining BMI, waist circumference, family health his-
tory, and lifestyle analysis gives healthcare providers
enough information to analyze health risks related to
weight at minimal cost to the patient.Parental concerns
Childhood obesity is an increasing concern.
Research shows that overweight children are more likely
to become obese adults than normal weight children.
Excess weight in childhood is also linked to early devel-
opment of type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and
early onset of certain cancers. In addition, overweight or
severely underweight children often pay a heavy social
and emotional price as objects of scorn or teasing.
Both the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)
and the United States Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC) recommend that the BMI of chil-
dren over age two be reviewed at regular intervals
during pediatric visits. Parents of children whose BMI
falls above the 85th percentile (at risk of being over-
weight and overweight categories) should seek infor-
mation from their healthcare provider about health
risks related to a high BMI and guidance on how to
moderate their child’s weight. Strenuous dieting is
rarely advised for growing children, but healthcare
providers can give guidance on improving the chid’s
diet, eliminating empty calories (such as those found in
soda and candy) and increasing the child’s activity level
in order to burn more calories and improve fitness.Tish Davidson, A.M.Bodybuilding diet
Definition
The bodybuilding diet is designed to build muscle
and reduce body fat. It emphasizes foods high inpro-
teinand complexcarbohydrates, such as whole grain
bread, pasta, and cereal. There are many variations of
the bodybuilding diet but an essential component
remains the same throughout, a regular strength-
building exercise building program.Origins
Many scholars believe bodybuilding diets began
with the ancient Greeks, whose gods, like HerculesBodybuilding diet