Everybody talks about maintaining a BMI and how important is BMI but what exactly it actually is? BMI stands for body mass index, which is a measure to know whether a person is underweight, healthy or overweight. It tells you how much should you weigh as per your height. The actual formula to calculate the BMI is weight (lb.) / [height (in)]2 x 703. Following is the chart that should be followed to determine that whether or not a person is healthy.
| BMI | Weight Status |
| Below 18.5 | Underweight |
| 18.5-24.9 | Healthy Weight |
| 25.0-29.9 | Overweight |
| 30.0+ | Obese |
According to the deteriorated beauty standards portrayed by the media, the thinner you are the more beautiful you are considered. However, they just portray unrealistic standards of beauty and do absolutely no good. Being thin or being underweight is not equivalent to being healthy. Maintaining the BMI is crucial, in both scenarios; whether you are overweight or underweight because both cause health issues and not only being overweight.
The first step is to know what your Body Mass Index should actually be. Once you know that, you need to work on achieving it. Maintaining a healthy weight can be hard but with the positive lifestyle changes, you can surely achieve it. Here are some of the tips on how to actually maintain your BMI.
If You Are Underweight:
Being underweight can cause a lot of health problems, like a weaker immune system and hence a vulnerability to a lot of diseases. If you are underweight, it is important to achieve a healthy weight. Here’s what you can do.
- Eat Healthy, Not Junk:
Underweight people are often told to increase the intake, but increasing the intake does not mean that you start eating junk. Junk food is harmful to everybody and not specifically for people who are overweight. Do increase your intake, but eat healthy. If you require a proper diet plan, visit a nutritionist.
- Exercise:
Yes, you read that right. Exercise isn’t necessarily for losing weight. Go for exercises that build strength and stamina. Stay fit and build some muscle. Don’t solely focus on consuming more and more fat. It would do more damage than it would do good. Also remember, you are beautiful, so don’t push yourself too hard.
If You Are Overweight:
Being overweight can be stressful and especially in a society where people are obsessed with being thin (which again, is not healthy). Here are some of the things that you can do to maintain your BMI if you are overweight.
- Make Healthy Lifestyle Changes:
Make the right choices is the most crucial step. Make positive lifestyle changes would definitely help you a lot. Go organic and cut down on processed food. It can be difficult but is totally worth it. Incorporate fruits and vegetables into your daily meals. Count the calories that you consume. There are a lot of applications out there to help you with that. Exercising is also very important. Exercise regularly. Start slow but be consistent.
These were some of the important tidbits to know on how to monitor and maintain your BMI. If you need any additional help, then feel free to consult a nutritionist to check out the status of your health. You can also book an appointment with a top Nutritionist in Lahore, Multan and Islamabad through oladoc.com, or call our helpline at 042-3890-0939 for assistance to find the RIGHT Doctor for your concerns.
