Story Published:
Oct 28, 2009 at 7:09 PM MDT
Story Updated:
Oct 28, 2009 at 7:28 PM MDT
BILLINGS - BMI may not be a magic number for weight loss.
BMI, or “body mass index” combines a measurement of a person’s weight in ratio with their height. Many times, people seeking better health or weight loss, will look to the body mass index to point to an ideal weight, but, clinical dietician Lindsey Diemert says not to rely on solely BMI.
“There’s always exceptions. It’s where you’re carrying that weight, whether it’s in your abdominal area, your muscle mass, how active you are. Those types of things are just as important characteristics as the BMI.”
She points out that although numbers like BMI, weight measurement, and calorie count all are important tools for diet, a better approach may be to look beyond merely attaining these numbers and think more to healthy nutrition.
“It’s not a diet. It’s a way of life, and it’s really trying to make those choices everyday that affect your health. So, maybe, you’re not at the perfect BMI, but, you’re eating things that fuel your body and give you the energy and the right nutrients to make your body work better,” Diemert says.
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