Do you know what your body mass index (BMI) is or do you wonder what the relevance of a BMI is? Well, a BMI is the acronym for body mass index. This measure of fat to body index is an indication of how overweight a person may be. Individuals with BMIs of 40 or more are deemed as morbidly obese. “Severely obese” body mass indexes range from 35 - 39.9 and are linked to a number of medical problems.

In people with body mass indices above 35, certain medical professionals will recommend weight-loss surgery. Although weigh loss surgery is ideal for improving one’s physical attributes, physicians prescribe the procedure for medical purposes.

The cumulative effects of obesity transcend many discomforts and risks. For instance, certain morbidly obese individuals suffer from respiratory complications due to limited lung capacity. As a result, a person may be afflicted with sleep apnea or other sleep disorders that ultimately affects one’s professional performance.

Another negative effect of obesity is depression. Generally, depressive disorders are overlooked frequently in overweight patients. Consequently, a myriad of daily setbacks accumulates. From the lack of physical energy to the discrimination associated with obesity, a negative preoccupation with body image triggers depression. Recent clinical trials have discovered a distinctive correlation between an individual’s BMI and depression.

Fortunately, despite the obstacles of being overweight, today’s scientific breakthroughs in prescription drugs and plastic surgery, everyone has alternatives. Nevertheless, many overweight and obese afflicted fail to admit that they have a medical problem. Here is a BMI chart defined by both the U.S. National Heart Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI), and the American Society for Bariatric Surgery (ASBS):

Normal: 18 – 24
Overweight: 25 – 29
Obese: 30 – 34
Severely Obese: 35-39
Morbidly Obese: 40