Sunday, June 03, 2007

Numbers of Extremely Obese Soar



According to a report from the journal "Public Health," the number of Americans with a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 50 or more increased 75% between 2000 and 2005. In addition, the number of bariatric procedures, including stomach-stapling and stomach-bypass surgery, rose from 13,000 in 1998 to an estimated 200,000 last year.

While BMI does have its limitations, I still consider it a decent measuring tool amongst the general public. To calculate your BMI, visit the National Institute of Health (NIH) at the following address:




After calculating your BMI, use the following chart to determine your score:

BMI Categories:


Underweight = <18.5>
Normal Weight=18.5-24.9
Overweight = 25-29.9
Obesity= 30 or greater

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