At BAMSI, we take the health and wellness of those we serve seriously.  We are also starting to look at our own health and wellness as caretakers, facilitators, therapists, mentors, nurses, moms, dads, and individuals who need to manage our overall well being in order to take care of others.  We are looking at some of the most important factors that play into our overall health and wellness.

Our Health and Our Weight

Our health and our weight are connected. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, if our body mass index falls into the range of overweight or obese, we are at a higher risk for the following diseases and conditions:

• Coronary heart disease
• Stroke
• Type 2 diabetes
• Cancers (endometrial, breast and colon)
• Hypertension or high blood pressure
• Dyslipidemia (high blood cholesterol, high blood triglycerides)
• Liver and gallbladder disease
• Sleep apnea and respiratory problems
• Osteoarthritis (degeneration of cartilage and its underlying bone within a joint)
• Gynecological problems for women (abnormal menstrual periods and infertility).

What Does “At Risk” Mean?

Being “at risk” means we are more likely to have a specific disease or condition than someone who has a BMI in the normal weight range. It does not mean we will get the disease.

BMI is one screening tool. To assess our actual health risk, our health-care provider will look at many factors. For example, if our doctor is concerned that an individual might have a heart attack, he or she will want to know several things in addition to our BMI:

• Do you have a family history of heart disease?
• Do you smoke cigarettes?
• How much physical activity do you get every day?
• How much fat, saturated fat, fiber and sodium do you consume?

Our doctor also will likely run other tests, such as a blood pressure check and lab tests. Collecting all of this information is the only way to make an accurate assessment of our health risk and to diagnose a condition such as coronary artery disease.

Lifestyle Changes Make a Big Difference

If our doctor says our BMI is in the overweight range and we have high blood pressure, the doctor may prescribe medication and suggest an individual make changes in our lifestyle. We may be told to lose weight, change our diet and get more exercise.

Here’s some really good news: Those lifestyle changes – eating smarter and moving more – will help lower our blood pressure no matter what happens with our weight. Since losing and then keeping weight off can be a challenge, it is reassuring to know lifestyle changes by themselves can reduce our risk; they can help you feel better too.