What’s your BMI and is it Important?

weighing scale

05 May What’s your BMI and is it Important?

Posted at 06:47h in Weight Loss by

Yet another recent study has highlighted the serious health risks associated with carrying excess weight, and the scale of the problem in the UK.  Even those who were slightly overweight were found to be twice as likely to have type 2 diabetes.
 
You can read more about the study in this BBC story, but what do these findings really mean? In short, being overweight puts you at serious risk of numerous health problems. The conclusions were drawn from an observational study, so it does have some drawbacks, but it’s a timely reminder of the importance of monitoring our weight for health purposes.

We often hear about BMI when healthy weight ranges are being discussed. I know they can cause some confusion so here’s what you need to know about BMI…

WHAT IS BMI?

BMI stands for body mass index and it is a measure that uses your height and weight to work out if your weight is healthy. If your BMI is:

  • below 18.5 – you’re in the underweight range 
  • between 18.5 and 24.9 – you’re in the healthy weight range 
  • between 25 and 29.9 – you’re in the overweight range 
  • between 30 and 39.9 – you’re in the obese range 

There are, of course, limitations when it comes to BMI readings. They don’t take into account situations such as high muscle percentage, so there can be professional rugby players and body builders who fall into the obese category when they are anything but. However, for the average person it can be a useful indicator of whether you’re at a healthy weight or whether you’re in an at-risk category.

HOW CAN I FIND OUT MY BMI?

Your BMI can be easily ascertained by using this NHS online BMI Healthy Weight Calculator, all you need to know is your height and weight. I regularly see people in my clinic whose BMI categorises them as obese – this can come as a bit of a shock as they certainly don’t fit the stereotypical picture the word conjures up. It’s worth checking to find out where you stand.

A WORD ON WAIST CIRCUMFERENCE

In addition to knowing your BMI, it’s also important to know your waist circumference. Most health experts agree that our waist circumference is a more accurate indicator of health risk than BMI. It’s possible to be within a healthy BMI range but still have too much fat around the middle, or ‘belly fat’, which has numerous health consequences.  Regardless of your height or BMI, it’s advisable to lose weight if your waist is greater than 94cm (37in) for men and 80cm (31.5in) for women. You’re at very high risk of serious health issues if your waist measurement is above 102cm (40in) for men or 88cm (34.5in) for women. Your waist measurement can be taken at home using a tape measure. Here is my guide for how to measure yourself.

 
Check your BMI online here and if you do need help managing your weight don’t hesitate to get in touch to find out how we can help you. 

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LINDA ROBINSON

Linda is our Practice Coordinator, helping to keep the clinic running smoothly.

 

Originally from Texas, Linda completed her MBA at SDA Bocconi in Milan. Linda has worked as a Strategy Consultant across multiple industries globally in cities including Kyoto, Paris, Chicago and San Francisco. She developed an interest in nutrition whilst volunteering for an organisation that provides cooking and nutrition education to children and families.

Linda is now settled in London with her husband, two children, and her very bouncy, sociable dog.

SARAH LAW

Sarah has worked with hundreds of clients over the past decade to help them live in a healthy body that they feel confident in.


Sarah spent a large part of her teens and 20’s as a professional dancer battling with orthorexia and an unhealthy relationship with food and her body. This created a desire to understand the human body more so she could finally cut through the confusion and end the cycle of yoyo dieting. This fuelled her passion to help other women do the same.

 

Sarah specialises in supporting women who are struggling to lose weight due to underlying health issues. She’s helped many women manage their weight during and after the menopause, as well as clients with thyroid disease and immune system dysfunction. Sarah loves food and sharing healthy recipes with her clients. Her aim is to ensure that clients don’t feel deprived and instead, achieve their weight loss and health goals in a positive and sustainable way.

 

To enquire about working with Sarah, please contact us.

AILSA HICHENS

 

Ailsa is one of our most experienced practitioners. She specialises in helping clients to lose weight, develop a healthy relationship with food and finally feel comfortable in their skin. Ailsa’s mission is for everyone she works with to enjoy the journey and that working with a nutritionist should not be a punishment, but your access to a new possibility.

 

Ailsa is not only an experienced weight loss nutritionist, she is also a skilled coach. She helps our clients overcome emotional eating, destructive habits and self-sabotaging behaviours that have prevented successful weight loss in the past. Ailsa has spent years in clinic working with clients who have experienced yo-yo dieting and have discovered that long term weight loss is not just about eating less until you can stand it no longer.

 

Working with Ailsa you will be comprehensively supported, not only in improving your nutrition and lifestyle, but also your eating habits and your relationship with food. When you work on all these elements together, the results can be truly astonishing.

 

To enquire about working with Ailsa, please contact us.

Test Nikki is our Practice Manager, managing our team of practitioners and heading up the day-to-day running of the business. Nikki is involved in the strategic development of our practice, coming from a strong business background in town planning. A Florida girl, Nikki relocated to the UK in 2014 with her husband and two children.

NIKKI ANDRIANI

Nikki is our Practice Manager, managing our team and heading up the day-to-day running of our clinic.

 

Coming from a background in town planning, Nikki is involved in the strategic development of our practice, continually ensuring we are delivering the very best service to our clients.


A Florida girl, Nikki relocated to the UK in 2014 where she lives with her husband, two children, and her rescue dog Skyy.

STÉPHANIE ACHAR

Stéphanie is a skilled nutritional therapist and functional medicine practitioner with additional training in eating disorders, disordered eating and obesity. She believes that working towards both physiological and mental health is key in achieving optimum wellbeing.

 

Stéphanie’s personal experience of emotional eating and the ongoing struggle to find the right support led her to combine the science of nutrition with behavioural coaching to motivate and empower her clients. She specialises in helping people who struggle with their weight and their relationship with food. She helps them develop a healthier and more peaceful relationship with food and their bodies.

 

To enquire about working with Stéphanie, please contact us.

INNA WEARN

Inna is passionate about supporting women on their journey to improved health and wellbeing. She believes that the solution to effective weight loss does not lie in ever more restrictive diets, but a more sophisticated approach that optimises health and vitality, as well as promoting effective weight loss.

 

Working with Inna you will benefit from her in-depth knowledge of female health and hormones. She will support you in developing a healthy diet, lifestyle and mindset that ensures you reach your ideal weight and maintain it in the years to come.

 

Inna is passionate about food with a wide repertoire of delicious healthy recipes and meal ideas to ensure your weight loss journey is as enjoyable as possible!

 

To enquire about working with Inna, please contact us.

ANIA MASON

 

Ania is a firm believer that improving your health and losing weight should be a positive, empowering journey, not one centred around deprivation.

 

After being diagnosed with two autoimmune conditions in her twenties, Ania spent several years educating herself on the power of food and nutrition. She put it all into practise and changed her diet and lifestyle, reversing her endometriosis and thyroid disease. After experiencing such a significant improvement in her health, Ania had a big desire to help others. She embarked on a four year journey to study nutrition, graduating from the Institute for Optimum Nutrition with distinction.

 

Ania specialises in autoimmunity and works with clients who have underlying health issues preventing successful weight loss. Her expertise enables her to successfully support our clients with conditions such as hypothyroidsm (underactive thyroid), PCOS and diabetes. 

 

To enquire about working with Ania, please contact us.

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