Body Mass Index is useful in medicine because it is quick and easy to calculate and provides a standard for estimating body fat. However, BMI does not always correspond to your health and should be assessed critically by a healthcare provider to determine individual risk.
What is my BMI?
BMI = weight in kilograms / (height in meters)2 or weight in pounds/ (height in inches)2 x 703
You can also plug in your weight and height into the CDC’s online calculator.
How will my dietitian or health educator assess my body composition?
Body composition is a better estimate of health compared to BMI. At Total Nutrition Technology, your body composition can be estimated using any combination of these methods:
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Bioelectrical Impedance
You may use a handheld device or step on a special scale. A weak electrical current that you cannot feel is sent through your body and is used to estimate your body fat percentage.
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Skinfold Thickness
A caliper lightly pinches your skin while measuring its thickness in millimeters. These measurements can easily be done through your clothes! If you are an athlete, you may decide to measure additional sites.
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Tape Measure
If you’re meeting with your health educator virtually, tape measurements can be done at home. The most common measurements are waist and hips. However, you may choose to measure other areas like the neck, arms, and legs.
No matter which methods you choose, remember that estimates of body composition are not exact, and that they may vary between methods. The important thing is that you consistently use the same type of measurement, same instrument, and have the same person taking the measurement. This ensures that the data gathered is as accurate as possible.
For your free assessment click here
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