Have you heard the acronym "BMI" before? Have you wondered what it stood for?

This week's e-Well Tip explains how your Body Mass Index (BMI) can help you determine a healthy weight according to your specific height. This week's tip also offers some great web links with strategies for weight loss and weight management.

**BMI is a measurement that calculates your height and weight to produce a number that you can then locate on a BMI chart. Depending on your BMI, you can determine if you are "normal weight", "overweight", "obese", or "underweight". BMI is considered a reliable indicator of total body fat, which is related to the risk of disease and death. The score is valid for both men and women.

**The BMI measurement has it's limits -- it may overestimate body fat in athletes and others who have a muscular build, and it may underestimate body fat in older persons and others who have lost muscle mass.

**The good news....even a small weight loss (just 10 percent of your current weight) will help to lower your risk of developing diseases associated with obesity.

**Click on the link below to assess your BMI.
http://nhlbisupport.com/bmi/bmicalc.htm

**After you determine your number, and category, visit the websites below for great information on losing weight or maintaining your healthy weight.
http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/

http://www.eatright.org/

**Talk to your primary care provider about your BMI, and ask if you are at an increased risk of developing specific diseases and if you should lose weight. If you are overweight or obese, you are at a higher risk of developing high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, type II diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and certain cancers. Remember....even a small weight loss of about 10 percent of your current weight will help you to lower your risk of developing these diseases.

<back