Title of article:

Body mass index and health.

Author: Gilmore J.
Journal: Health Reports, Jan 1999; 11(1):31-43. (Statistics Canada).

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: This article describes the prevalence of the four international body mass index (BMI) categories--underweight (18.5 or less), acceptable weight (18.6 to 24.9), overweight (25 to 29.9) and obese (30 or more)--by selected socio-demographic and lifestyle characteristics. It also examines the association between BMI and selected health problems. DATA SOURCE: The data are from the household component of the 1996/97 National Population Health Survey, conducted by Statistics Canada. Results are based on a sample of 50,347 respondents aged 20 to 64. ANALYTICAL TECHNIQUES: Prevalence estimates of BMI categories were calculated. Multivariate analyses were used to examine associations between BMI and various health conditions by smoking status, while controlling for age and sex. MAIN RESULTS: In 1996/97, about half of Canadian adults were in the acceptable weight range; 34% were overweight; 12%, obese; and 2%, underweight. Being overweight or obese was associated with asthma, arthritis, back problems, high blood pressure, diabetes and thyroid disorders, although this varied with smoking status. Underweight smokers had high odds of reporting cancer, bowel disorders, ulcers, and migraine.

Comments and Key points

This article used the standard WHO criteria¹ for body mass index, defining BMI > 25.0 as "overweight" and BMI>30.0 as "obese.

However, the article mentions a specific Canadian BMI criteria, which is BMI<20.0 is "underweight", BMI >25.0 is "some excess weight", and BMI>27.0 is "overweight".

This study used fairly recent data from 1996-1997. Here are some descriptive statistics about Canadians:

Average height of women (Canadian) is 163 centimeters, or 5 feet 4 inches.
Average weight of women (Canadian) is 65.8 kg, or 145 pounds.
Average Body Mass Index (BMI) of Canadian women is 24.8 kg/m².

Average height of men (Canadian) is 178 centimeters, or 5 feet 10 inches.
Average weight of men (Canadian) is 83.2 kg, or 183 pounds.
Average Body Mass Index (BMI) of Canadian men is 26.3 kg/m².

The study found that being overweight is associated with health risks. These types of illnesses occurred much more frequently in overweight people: asthma, arthritis, back problems, high blood pressure, diabetes, thyroid problems, activity limitations, repetitive strain injury.

References

1. World Health Organization. Physical Status: The use and interpretation of anthropometry, Report of the WHO expert committs (WHO technical report series, No. 854) Geneva: World Health Organization, 1995.

Review & comments by Steven B. Halls, MD, Last modified 23-June, 2008, Copyright
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