Magazine May/Jun 2018

GYM

BMI: DON’T STRESS IT By Eric Goh, personal trainer

What’s your body mass index (BMI)? You’re probably familiar with this seemingly innocuous – and sometimes embarrassing – question.

have large amounts of muscle and low body fat are often identified as overweight or obese.

Another problem with BMI is that it does not measure or take into account where fat is distributed within the body. Take for example, an individual who has thin legs and carries a lot of fat around his middle, compared with another who has the same amount of fat evenly distributed throughout his body. Although both individuals may have the same BMI, the former is likely to be unhealthier and more susceptible to future health problems (excessive tummy fat has a positive correlation with the accumulation of visceral fat around the organs – a condition that can be particularly dangerous). This has led many to argue that the hip-to-waist ratio is a more accurate measure of health (according to the World Health Organization, this ratio should be no more than 0.85 for women and 0.9 for men). All said, there are numerous factors to consider before determining if an individual is in the pink of health. Measurements like body fat percentage, agility and cardiovascular endurance are just some examples that should be taken into consideration along with one’s BMI – you are advised not to see your BMI in isolation as your sole health report card!

Calculated based on weight, height and gender, children and adults are classified into four categories based on their BMI: • BMI below 18.5 = Underweight

• BMI between 18.5 – 24.9 = Normal • BMI between 25 – 39.9 = Overweight • BMI equal to or above 40 = Obese

Although being underweight, overweight or obese can lead to future health problems, this does not mean that everyone who falls into these categories (as relating to their BMI) are automatically considered unhealthy. For instance, someone who falls into the overweight category could actually be healthier than someone else who falls within the normal weight range. Why BMI Isn’t Perfect BMI doesn’t distinguish between muscle weight and fat weight. A kilogram of muscle takes up much less volume in the body than a kilogram of fat, even though both weigh the same. Using BMI, fit, muscular individuals who

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THE AMERICAN CLUB MAY / JUN 2018