Know your Numbers: Part 3
This is part three of a four part series on the numbers you should know that are barometers of your health.
The numbers we have spoken about so far in this series have been numbers that you need to see your primary care practitioner to access through bloodwork. The number representing body mass index and waist to hip circumference are measures that you can do on your own.
In addition to diabetes, hypertension, elevated lipids and smoking, obesity and overweight are important risk factors for the development of heart disease. BMI uses weight and height to determine if your weight is appropriate to height. It is your weight in kg divided by your height in metres squared. There are a number of BMI calculators available online. It can be an inaccurate reflection of health because it does not take into consideration body composition. Someone who is heavier due to increased muscle mass might have the same BMI as someone whose mass is largely fat. A normal BMI is between 18 and 25. Although it is an imperfect offering.
Another measurement is the waist circumference. Weight that gathers in the middle of the body is associated with greater risk. To measure waist circumference, choose the spot in line with your belly button, halfway between your lowest rib and the top of your hip bone, roughly. Wear only one light layer of clothing or place the measuring tape on your skin. Your waist circumference should be less that 80 cm if you are female and 94 cm if you are male. If your background is South Asian, Latin American or Southeast Asian, heart disease risk occurs at a lower threshold so normal measures are less (90 cm for men and 80 cm for women).
Once you know your numbers, lifestyle change to bring those as close to normal as possible may greatly lower your risk for diabetes and heart disease!
Dr. Bhooma Bhayana is a family physician in London and the mother of two young men and proud grandmother of three! She continues to find wonder and enjoyment in family practice despite more than 30 years on the job!
