What Number Has the Power to Save Your Life?

In a world of super-sizing and excessive indulgence, the term “Body Mass Index” (BMI) can sound like a real bummer. But this simple number is much clearer than a crystal ball when it comes to seeing your future.

Your BMI is easy to compute. Take your weight and divide it by your height squared. Multiply that result by 703, and you have your BMI. Let’s say you are 5 foot 9 inches and weigh 165 pounds. Your BMI would be 24.36 [165 divided by 4761 (69 x 69) multiplied by 703 equals 24.36]. If you don’t feel like doing the math, there are lots of resources on the web for calculating BMI., including one on our website (http://www.215prevent.com/healthInformation.php).

Ideally, a normal BMI is 25. Anything over 25 is labeled as overweight and anything over 30 is classified as obese. If your BMI is over 25, you are not alone. Two out of every three Americans are overweight. The scary thing is that studies have shown that for every five points you accrue above 25, you could be shortening your life by two years. Obesity can lead to high cholesterol and high blood pressure. It is also the number one leading factor when it comes to developing chronic illnesses or disorders, such as heart attacks, sleep apnea, strokes, certain cancers and diabetes. A six-foot, 300 pound man could be shortening his life span by eight to 10 years if he does not change his habits!

John is the perfect example of this.  A patient of mine for many years, I watched as he packed on the excess weight, eventually carrying many more pounds than he should.  As expected, with the excess weight came the arrival of sleep apnea, swollen legs, high cholesterol, and continuous fatigue preventing him from completing everyday activities.  John and I worked together to identify the issue and then we got to work, putting prevention first. How? We started with nutritional counseling.  This is not dieting; this is not deprivation; it’s healthy eating. It involves figuring out delicious heart-smart substitutions for his favorite foods and correcting portion sizes. Then, we taught him simple, easy steps to increase his everyday activity—things like taking the stairs instead of the elevator, parking at the end of the lot.  John hates exercise, but by following these tips, he was getting fit without even knowing it.

Just by making simple changes in his diet and his lifestyle, John lost 50 pounds over an eight-month period. His sleep apnea improved significantly, meaning better sleeping patterns and less fatigue. His cholesterol went down, meaning no more expensive medications. His legs are no longer swollen and he feels as though he can accomplish so much more in a day than ever before. Naturally, both he and his wife are overjoyed at the difference in his quality of life.

The result is wonderful, but not at all surprising.  A couple of years ago, I attended a conference on “personalized preventive healthcare” presented by the National Institutes of Health.  Through many extensive studies, the NIH concluded that while genetics will always play a role in the onset of chronic illness, obesity plays a huge factor as well.  Furthermore, they found that exercise and healthy eating have proved to be just as effective as expensive medications, if not more so, in battling diseases such as diabetes.  While those who have stock in the pharmaceutical companies may not find this news so enlightening, it certainly reinforces those who invest in their own healthy lifestyles.

Lately, there’s been a lot of press about supplements made from acai berries and green coffee extract that promise speedy and effortless weight loss. The truth, however, is that there is no definitive scientific evidence that these supplements do anything to aid weight loss. As a doctor, I’m not here to sugarcoat the truth (no pun intended): there is no magic bullet solution to fighting weight gain other than good old diet and exercise. Yes, it will take willpower. Yes, it will require you to change your habits. Yes, it might take longer than you want, but in the long run, you’ll be so much better off.

Try it for yourself.  Start by cutting out sugary sodas and lattes, many of which can pack 200 calories or more on your daily diet.  Also, walk an extra 500 steps a day (take the stairs instead of an elevator, look for the farthest parking spot in the lot instead of the closest).  Just by following these two tips every day, you should see a positive result in a matter of weeks.

By fostering healthy lifestyles, and giving my patients the tools to do so, I have found that people look at health care more as a pleasure and not a chore.  Prevention First Healthcare is geared around proactive care to ensure a longer, better life. It may sound too good to be true, but I can assure you that John and many of our other patients can attest to the power of putting prevention first.

Do you know what your Body Mass Index is? Do you have any tips to share that have helped you keep your BMI at a healthy number?

As I hit “send” to publish this blog post, I’d like to ask Patch readers to give me feedback on what topics you’re interested in hearing about or learning about. After all, as a physician who has made it my life’s work to put prevention first, if I’m not giving you information to help you improve your health, then I’m not doing my job.

Here’s to your health –

Dr. Marc

www.215prevent.com