Why do doctors still use BMI?
If you think that you are having a problem with your weight, you can meet your doctor and ask about their opinion. Usually, your doctor will take your height and weight measurement in order to determine whether it is true that you are having a weight problem or not. These measurements are then used to calculate a value called BMI. BMI stands for Body Mass Index ratio. It is very easy to calculate BMI. Even you can even calculate it on your own. To calculate BMI, you need to divide your weight in kilograms by your height squared in meters. After that, you will get your BMI value. This value is very important in determining whether your body is an ideal fit for you or not. This is also the reason why doctors around the world still use BMI in most of their job nowadays.
As mentioned above, BMI is widely used by doctors around the world because it can help them to decide their next intervention. By getting a BMI value, your doctor can put you into a different body category. If your BMI is between 18.5 and 25, it is considered normal. Usually, for people that fall under this category, your doctor will do nothing about it. Simple, if it is not broken, then do not fix it. However, your doctor might advise you to always keep your weight under control. Do not undereat or overeat because this can change your BMI in an instance. They might also tell you to continue doing what you do in terms of keeping your body in shape.
However, everything will change if your BMI value is below 18.5 or higher than 25. Logically, a BMI value of lower than 18.5 is considered underweight. For this type of category, your doctor will suggest an intervention. Firstly, he or she will need to investigate what is the real problem that makes you underweight. After they find the diagnosis, then they will advise you to start tackling the problem. Generally, the intervention that they will ask you to do will depend on the problem itself. Different problems will require different solutions. For example, if you are underweight because you always eat less, then your doctor will ask you to eat more carbs to add more weight. But, if your weight is low because you are stressed, then he or she will handle the stress first. Probably they will teach you how to eliminate stress from your life because it can help to increase your condition and achieve a normal BMI.
If your BMI is more than 25, then it will be vice versa with the underweight category. People with a BMI of more than 25 are considered overweight while a BMI of more than 30 is considered obese. For a category like this, your doctor will suggest a lot of ways to help reduce your weight and achieve a normal BMI value. Your doctor will usually tell you to start exercising in order to lose all the fats and cholesterol that contribute to your gain in body weight. Besides, they will also ask you to start eating healthily and not overeat. Basically, everything that your doctor tells you will be based on your current BMI. This is why it is very important for doctors to know about your BMI and what is the meaning behind it. To summarize, BMI value is very important for doctors and they simply cannot ignore this calculation if they want to help cure their patient. BMI looks very simple, but it is indeed very important.
