“ Use of BMI Testing in Employee Screening ”Robin Bobrick of Onelife Fitness

What is BMI? BMI Testing

is a measure of the Body fat that is based upon height and weight: The ratio of the body is in kilograms to the square of its height in meters.

Here is a formula that may be used to compute a numerical rating of BMI:

What it determines?

The BMI is an attempt to determine the amount of tissue mass:

Muscle - Fat - Bone

This Calculation is used to categorize whether an individual is Underweight : under 18.5

Normal: 18.5 to 25

Overweight: 25 to 30

Obese: Over 30

How to Calculate? Links to online BMI Calculators:

CDC BMI Calculator

Mayo Clinic BMI Calculator

WebMD BMI Calculator

Importance

An objective measure of body fat is a relatively easy screening method to help identify individuals who may have higher risk for a whole host of diseases that are statistically more common in individuals who are overweight.

Heart Disease

Diabetes

Hypertension ( High Blood Pressure)

High Cholesterol

Gallbladder Disease

Stroke

Concerns with Use of BMI

There are some health industry criticisms of using BMI to categorize the conditions of individuals.

1.BMI testing was designed for population studies not individuals

2.Body fat percentage may be more accurate to measure some individuals

a. very muscular individuals may be classified as obese when determining BMI however would be considered health when testing for Body Fat Percentage

Other Methods

Another approach to use in conjunction with BMI is to measure an individual's waist circumference. Men and women who exceed a certain measurement should be defined as overweight.

Women who exceed a 35 inch waist or Men who exceed a 40 inch waist

Other testing listing below are more accurate ways to determine an individual's health.

Body Fat Calipers

Underwater or Hydrostatic weighing

Body Pod