Coimbatore / Kovai Information

Body mass index (or BMI) is defined as the person’s body weight divided by the square of his or her height. Body mass index may be calculated using the formula below (BMI Calculator)

BMI is a crude method to estimate obesity

Body Mass Index (BMI) is one of the ways to determine when extra fat accumulation translates into health risks. Body mass index is a measure which takes into account a person’s weight and height to gauge total body fat in adults. The higher the body mass index, the greater the risk of developing additional health problems. The following chart describes the various categories of obesity based on body mass index:

BMI = 19 - 24 Desirable
BMI = 25 - 30 Overweight
BMI = 31 - 35 Obese, category 1
BMI = 36 - 40 Obese, category 2
BMI > 40 Severe obesity

Heart disease, diabetes and high blood pressure are all linked to being overweight and obese.

It's a common myth that if you have diabetes you shouldn't eat certain foods because they're "too sweet." Some fruits do contain more sugar than others, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't eat them if you have diabetes.

The total amount of carbohydrates in a food affects blood sugar levels more than does the source of carbohydrates or whether the source is a starch or sugar. One serving of fruit should contain 15 grams of carbohydrates. The size of the serving depends on the carbohydrate content of the fruit.

The advantage of eating a low-carbohydrate fruit is that you can consume a larger portion. But whether you eat a low-carb or high-carb fruit, as long as the serving size contains 15 grams of carbohydrates, the effect on your blood sugar is the same.

The following fruit servings contain about 15 grams of carbohydrates:

1/2 medium banana
1/2 cup (83 grams) cubed mango
1 1/4 cup (190 grams) cubed watermelon
1 1/4 cup (180 grams) whole strawberries
1/3 cup (80 grams) cubed sapodilla (chikoo)
3/4 cup (124 grams) cubed pineapple
With

M. Regina Castro, M.D.