In general, BMI is an easy-to-perform method of screening for weight category, for example underweight, normal or healthy weight, overweight, and obesity.
Are you a good candidate for weight-loss surgery?
What is Body Mass Index (BMI)?
BMI is a mathematical calculation used to measure a person’s percentage of body fat. The formula for BMI is a person’s weight in pounds divided by the square of their height in inches. With the help of a calculator you can quickly get your BMI. In general, BMI is an easy-to-perform method of screening for weight category, for example underweight, normal or healthy weight, overweight, and obesity.
Health Risks of Obesity
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC),more than one-third of U.S. adults (34.9%or 78.6 million)are obese.
Furthermore, studies specifically link a high BMI to an increased incidence of type 2 diabetes, highlighting the critical health risks associated with excessive body weight. Maintaining a BMI in the healthy zone is crucial for decreasing the risk of such conditions and enhancing overall wellness.
There are various medical conditions that are associated with obesity, such as:
• Heart Disease
• Diabetes
• Hypertension
• Osteoarthritis
• Liver Disease
• Sleep Apnea
• Depression
• Acid Reflux
• BMI Ranges
A high BMI can be an indicator of high body fatness. BMI is commonly referenced in terms of bariatric surgery candidates. BMI is a good indicator of a person’s weight category and health.
• Underweight: BMI less than 18
• Normal: BMI 18-25
• Overweight: BMI 25-30
• Obese Class I (Moderately Obese): BMI 30-35
• Obese Class II (Severely Obese):BMI 35-40
• Obese Class III (Very severely obese): BMI over 40
• How good is BMI as an indicator of body fatness?
• The correlation between the BMI and body fatness is fairly strong but even if two people have the same BMI, their level of body fatness may differ
In general,
• At the same BMI, women tend to have more body fat than men.
• At the same BMI, older people, on average, tend to have more body fat than younger adults.
• At the same BMI, athletes have less body fat than do non-athletes.
The accuracy of BMI as an indicator of body fatness also appears to be higher in persons with higher levels of BMI and body fatness. While,a person with a very high BMI is very likely to have high body fat, a relatively high BMI can be the results of either high body fat or high lean body mass (muscle and bone).A trained healthcare provider should perform appropriate health assessments in order to evaluate an individual’s health status and risks.
Am I a candidate for weight-loss bariatric surgery?
If you have been struggling with your weight, it's essential to consider weight-loss options. Bariatric surgery can be an effective solution to address serious health implications associated with obesity. To determine if you are a candidate for bariatric surgery, we recommend scheduling a consultation with one of BASS Medical Group's esteemed bariatric surgeons.
Common traits of bariatric surgery candidates include:
Being over ideal body weight by 100 lbs. or more
Having a Body Mass Index (BMI) greater than 40
Suffering from serious health conditions resulting from weight, such as heart disease, high blood pressure, and diabetes
Being unable to achieve sustained weight loss through diet, nutrition, and exercise
Falling within the age range of 14 to 75
It is important to note that weight gain should not be a result of recent pregnancy or a condition that may have caused significant short-term weight gain.
How can one correctly measure their waist circumference?
To correctly measure your waist circumference, follow these steps:
Stand up straight and place a tape measure around your waist, just above your hip bones.
Ensure that the tape measure is positioned horizontally around your waist.
Keep the tape measure snug against your skin without pressing into it.
Measure after you exhale, as this provides a more accurate reading.
What are the limitations of using BMI to estimate body fat?
When using BMI to estimate body fat, it is important to consider its limitations. While BMI can offer a general estimation of body fat for the majority of individuals, it may not always provide an accurate representation for certain groups. Specifically, BMI tends to underestimate body fat in older adults and individuals with low muscle mass. Conversely, for those who are particularly muscular, BMI may overestimate body fat levels.
These limitations highlight the importance of recognizing that BMI calculations may not always provide precise assessments of body fat composition, especially in those with specific characteristics such as age, muscle mass, or muscular build.
How does BMI estimation vary for individuals who are particularly muscular?
The method of estimating BMI can lead to inaccuracies for those with high muscle mass, often calculating a higher body fat percentage than is actually present.
How does BMI estimation vary for older adults or individuals with low muscle mass?
BMI calculations can often provide misleading results for older adults or individuals who have less muscle mass. In these cases, BMI might not accurately reflect the actual body fat percentage, as it tends to be higher than what BMI would suggest. This discrepancy occurs because BMI does not differentiate between weight from fat and weight from muscle, which can lead to underestimations of body fat in these groups.
What are the different measurement units available for height, weight, and waist circumference?
The various measurement units available for height include inches or centimeters. For weight, the options are pounds or kilograms. When it comes to waist circumference, the units of measure that can be utilized are inches or centimeters.
Why is it useful to consider waist size in addition to BMI for assessing health risks?
Considering waist size alongside BMI is beneficial for health assessments because it provides a more complete picture of body fat distribution and associated risks. BMI is a useful tool, but it doesn't differentiate between fat and muscle or account for variations in body fat distribution, which can vary among different ethnic groups and change with age.
Crucially, BMI fails to acknowledge the unique health hazards associated with abdominal fat, which are associated with critical conditions such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes. By including waist circumference in health assessments, it is possible to identify individuals who, despite having a normal BMI, might carry excess abdominal fat and are at an increased risk of health issues.
Is Weight-Loss Surgery Right For You?
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Patient Success Stories
Bariatric Surgery & Obesity Specialists | Weight-Loss Surgery Center clinics in Walnut Creek and Brentwood California
Before Surgery
After Surgery
My Weight-Loss Surgery Success Story
My name is Denise. I started my weight-loss journey in December of 2014 by visiting Dr. Chin. It was ten months of doctors’ appointments, weigh-ins, and medical tests. But I was focused and determined. Finally, my surgery date came. I was sleeved in October 2015, and it was the best decision I have ever made for myself. I was 57 years old at the time. I asked my surgeon, Dr. Chin, if I was too old for the surgery, and he said, “No one is too old to get healthy.” He was so very right. I was 310 pounds at my heaviest, pre-surgery. I was pre-diabetic, and had high blood pressure. My back, knees, and ankles hurt most of the time, and I was always short of breath. Those were just the medical conditions I had because of my weight. I was self-conscious and depressed. I was very unhappy. Surgery was a piece of cake (no pun intended). I was walking on the treadmill within two days. Soon, I was amazed at the transformation I was having, both in my weight loss and with my attitude towards food. As the weight loss kept happening, I was gaining my health back. I am no longer on blood pressure medicine, and I am no longer pre-diabetic. My knees, back, and ankles don’t hurt anymore because I am not carrying so much weight. I can walk and move around without being short of breath. My confidence has returned, and I am so much happier now that I am 100 pounds lighter. I swim a mile five days a week, and walk three to four miles every day, and I enjoy it. There are so many accomplishments that have come from losing weight like shopping in the regular size section, fitting in any chair, crossing my legs, not having to ask for an extension on the airplane, and the list goes on. The only regret I have is not having this surgery sooner. I would like to thank Dr. Chin and all of the staff involved in my life saving/changing surgery.
Denise Brown
Past Bariatric Surgery Patient
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"I am now so happy with my health and this surgery. Do it for your health!"
Bariatric Surgery Specialists | Weight Loss Surgery Center in Walnut Creek and Brentwood
Brian T. Chin, MD, FACS
Bariatric Surgeon
Doctor Biography
Dr. Brian Chin was born and raised in the Bay Area. After graduating from Acalanes High School in Lafayette he ventured cross-country to coastal Maine, where he graduated magna cum laude from Bowdoin College with a bachelor’s degree in physics and mathematics. From there, he went on to earn a master’s degree in applied physics from Columbia University. He earned his medical degree at the University of Michigan Medical School, then returned to California for his surgery residency at the University of California at San Diego, where he won the Department of Medicine’s Halasz Award for surgical consultation and the Department of Surgery’s Chairman’s Prize for teaching and service excellence. Additionally, he served as administrative chief resident. Following residency, Dr. Chin completed a fellowship in bariatric and advanced laparoscopic surgery at the University of California at San Francisco, working alongside world-renowned leaders at the forefront of laparoscopic surgery. Dr. Brian Chin is board certified in surgery by the American Board of Surgery and in advanced trauma life support by the American College of Surgeons. Dr. Chin also serves as a trauma surgeon at the John Muir Medical Center, which is certified as a level II trauma center by the American College of Surgeons and is Contra Costa County’s only trauma center. He sees patients in Walnut Creek and Brentwood.
Jason F. Moy, MD, FACS
Bariatric Surgeon
Doctor Biography
Dr. Jason Moy is a graduate of the University of Michigan, where he earned both his undergraduate degree from the Honors College and Master of Public Health degree in molecular epidemiology from the School of Public Health. Dr. Moy received his medical degree from Michigan State University. Following medical school, he completed a surgical residency at William Beaumont Hospital. There, in addition to surgical training, Dr. Moy was extensively involved in surgical research and had the opportunity to both publish peer-reviewed articles and present at national and international surgical meetings. After completing residency, Dr. Moy continued his surgical training in New York City as a fellow in minimal access and bariatric surgery in a joint program with Cornell Medical College and Columbia University at New York Presbyterian Hospital. In New York, Dr. Moy trained with pioneers in laparoscopic and bariatric surgery, Drs. Michel Gagner, Alfons Pomp and Dennis Fowler. He also continued surgical research, publishing multiple times, including a paper on laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy technique. At Columbia, Dr. Moy was appointed a clinical instructor of surgery. Dr. Moy is an advanced laparoscopic surgeon, practicing the full scope of general surgery, bariatric surgery, and trauma surgery.
