Does Your Doctor Know Your BMI or BMR

Metabolism is basically your body trying to balance the total number of calories your organ's cells are able to "burn" with what they've consumed. The delicate dance your body does on auto-pilot can now be measured by electronic body resistance devices. This metabolic number has been defined on the average for the typical human as being about 2000 calories.If the number of calories you consume equal that of your output you maintain a basal metabolic rate(BMR)that will equal those you've consume. But, this "magic" number of calories you need may be a gross over or under-estimation based on your body's metabolic rate.As you can see this can be quite difficult to maintain. The BMI or body mass index on the underhand is the weight to height measured squared and is a way to measure your risk to obesity related diseases and morbidity. 24.9 to 30 is considered overweight and that over 30 is defined as obese. Body (white) fat over 15 % and 22% in women and men respectively are being relegated by this caloric balance and are useful to define risk. But, the "burn" or metabolism rate can be faster than normal, slower than normal or have somewhat of a mixed-variable rate. The "burn" (thermic) effect of calories is also influenced by the metabolic (thermic)effect of exercise, the thermic effect of food(quanity v.s. quality) and another component with caloric super burners called brown fat.

Fast metabolic rates require higher dense calories and should have proportinately more protein. Slow metabolizers may consider more complex carbohydrates(fruits and vegetables) to their diet in relationship to protein and particularly fiber with smaller meals more frequently.

Today, we are seing the appearance of a syndrome that is striking 2/3 of Americans known as the Cardio-Metabolic Syndrome which also goes by the name Metabolic Syndrome, Syndrome-X, the Potato Couch Sydrome or just an Unhealthy Lifestyle.

This phenomena appears to be associated with obesity, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, high triglycerides, insulin resistance, high uric acid and diabetes.These are hallmarks of what we may be seeing in the "mixed-variable" type of metabolizers such as those who are chronic insomniacs, those who eat foods with high amounts of trans/hydrogenated fats(junk food), have little exercise, high stress, exposed to foods that have toxins such as PAHs/HCAs(fast foods), pesticides, herbicides, insectices,growth hormones, estrogen, antiobiotics or those who work grave yard shifts, those who party , study and work all night and do not have enough organic foods in their diet.

The BMI defines your risk of cardiovascular diseae and the BMR may help your nutritionist figure out what quantity and quality type of calories you should be consuming.


To learn more about your BMI and BMR read Dr. Wells book "Fit Family" now available at www.fitfamily360.com

Dr. Marcus Wells is a preventive health and lifestyles advocate

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