In September of this year I seemed inundated with the concept of Body Mass Index or BMI. I had three of 'em giving me trouble. More trouble than the Dow or NASDAQ.
It would seem that my 4 year old has a BMI slightly higher than it should be. I too, after a summer of indulgence am a couple points higher than I should be - and my dog too. WHAT? my dog? It would appear that bmi can also be applied to our canine friends and mine seems to have one a few points North from perfect.
So how does bmi differ from other means of identifying weight problems?
Body mass index, or BMI, is a new term to most people. However, it is the measurement of choice for many physicians and researchers studying obesity. BMI uses a mathematical formula that takes into account both a person's height and weight. BMI equals a person's weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared. (BMI=kg/m2).
Rather than using weight as a measurement, we are talking about measuring the amount of fat on a person's frame instead.
With children BMI is used differently than it is for adults. It is referred to as BMI- for age. In the case of my 4 year old, it's not that he's fat, but a higher than normal BMI at this stage can set the scene for obesity later in life. You really want to keep them at a normal level as systems set themselves for the long haul........or so I am told. Since September, after replacing juices with water, chips and salsa with carrots and dip - he's exactly where he should be.As for my dog Charlotte (looking deflated after learning of her elevated BMI) is now two weeks into a serious "no human food consumption" rule is already right where she should be. 
Good news on the first two index issues - the third one.....well......that's not so easily remedied. No 18 month old canine or 4 year old kiddie am I. It will take a while, but I'll get it down to where it should be and when I do........I'll post a picture of myself along side Charlotte the dog.
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