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Body-mass
index (BMI) is basically a measure of your weight in proportion
to your height. BMI is regarded as an important indicator
of overall fitness and health, although the specific nature
of BMI as it relates to disease is not clear-cut and the "optimal"
BMI is highly subjective.
More than one million U.S. adults (457,785 men and 588,369
women) participated in a 14-year study that examined the relationship
 between BMI and the risk of death from all causes. Results
showed a distinct association between BMI and disease, including
the following:
- A high BMI was most strongly linked with death from cardiovascular
disease, especially in men.
- Overall, heavier (higher weight in proportion to height)
women and men in all age groups had an increased risk of
death compared to those with lower BMIs.
- Among men and women with the highest BMIs, Caucasian
men and women had a significantly higher risk of death compared
with African-American men and women, although both groups
had an elevated risk compared with those with a lower BMI.
Keep in mind that the "ideal" weight should always be considered
in terms of one's height and overall body size, shape and
frame. And of course, exercise and diet are also important
factors which BMI doesn't consider. Lean muscle mass weighs
more than fat, so good health is more than just weight in
proprortion to height. Your chiropractor can determine your
BMI, assess your overall health status, and recommend appropriate
fitness strategies to keep you on the road to lifelong wellness.
Reference:
Calle EE, Thun MJ, Petrelli JM, et al. Body-mass index and
mortality in a prospective cohort of U.S. adults. The New
England Journal of Medicine, October 7, 1999: Vol. 341,
No. 15, pp1097-1105.
For more information on fitness and athletic conditioning,
go to https://www.chiroweb.com/find/tellmeabout/sports.html
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