Body Mass Index for Men: Why Dad Should Care More About BMI



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Few things make men gain weight as quickly as fatherhood – men exercise less, eat terribly and endure the hormonal changes that accumulate the extra pounds (and keep them packed). Again, it's not because new fathers have trouble with the scales that they have to be worried about their weight. Weight measurements can not say much about men's health, regardless of size. However, the body mass index, or BMI, is found in both height and weight, which can tell fathers much more about the status of their father's flesh.

"Being a father does not change what your BMI should be," pokes Keith Ayoob, a pediatric nutritionist and clinician.. "You want to keep under 25 years. Over 25 is considered overweight and over 30 is obese. These numbers are all adulthood, dad or not. "

The measure of BMI was introduced in the 19th century by Lambert Adolphe Jacques Quetelet, a mathematician and non-physician. His goal was to develop a simple and fast formula for measuring obesity. BMI is a popular indicator of health, in part because it is easy to calculate, as long as you know its size and weight. First of all, a person multiplies by 703 his weight in pounds, then divides by his height in square inches. If the results are between 18.5 and 25, they are in a healthy range. If their BMI is greater than 25, they are overweight. If they are over 30, they are obese. And if they are less than 18.5 years old, they may want to start drinking Ensure. Although men tend to have a higher BMI than women, the recommendations are the same for both. Something between 18.5 and 25 is ideal.

Some scientists suspect that determining your BMI is simple, but it may be a little too simple. The biggest criticism of BMI as a global health indicator is that it does not take into account the difference between muscle and fat. As a result, a person who is not exercising may have a lower BMI than a professional athlete of the same size but weighing more, but this does not necessarily make them healthier.

That said, for most fathers who are not professional athletes, a BMI over 25 years of age will likely signal the need for some changes, which will be difficult to do with children.

"Men do not undergo all the changes women make when they have children, but dad's lifestyle will probably change and that poses challenges, of course," Ayoob said. One of these changes includes testosterone levels that decrease when men have children, as well as with age.

"We know that high testosterone levels result in less weight loss," says family physician Jeffrey Walden. "So, unfortunately, men in their thirties and forties will generally have slower metabolic rates compared to their eighties."

However, Ayoob and Waldern agree that fathers should be less concerned about losing testosterone and more about losing sleep. Sleep deprivation increases stress hormones like cortisol in the body, which can lead to cravings and a loss of energy. Cortisol can actually swell the body and cling to fat cells. Although diet and exercise can help, parents will never control their BMI if they only sleep five hours a night.

The best thing to do to compensate for fathers' sleep loss and weight gain is to create a schedule that includes both exercise and sleep. Fulfilling a schedule will help fathers find new opportunities to move, whether running or pushing a stroller. Given the physical demands of fatherhood, it is possible for exercising fathers to see their BMI reduced and their weight remaining the same. It's very good. Strength is not a problem.

However, being obsessed with numbers can be.

"The numbers can be helpful, but do not be too distracted and do not lose sight of what's important," Walden recommends. "Most fathers want to stay healthy enough to spend quality time with their children. Keeping this in the foreground can help them achieve their long-term goals. "

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