A high BMI may qualify you for a Covid-19 vaccine. Here’s how to check

A high BMI may qualify you for a Covid-19 vaccine. Here’s how to check

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The US Centers for Disease Control & Prevention lists obesity as an underlying medical condition, defining it as someone with a body mass index of 30 or higher but less than 40. However, a high BMI does not necessarily mean that you are ‘unhealthy’ .
Determining your BMI is a quick and dirty way to indirectly measure the amount of fat your body has. The CDC has created a calculator for children and adults to find their number.

For adults, a BMI of 18.5 to 24.9 is in the normal range, 25 to 29.9 is overweight and 30 and above is obese. A BMI of 40 or higher is sometimes categorized as ‘extreme’ or ‘severe’ obesity, the CDC says.

A BMI of more than 30 can cause serious health problems such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease, said Dr. Rosen Clifford, director of the Center for Clinical and Translation Research at the Maine Medical Center Research Center, said.

Obesity also increases the risk of Covid-19 reacting more severely, he said.

According to Clifford, there are rare cases where a healthy person reports an unhealthy BMI number. Weight trainers and people with athletic builds have a lot of muscle, which can create a high BMI number, said dr. Caroline Apovian, director of nutrition and weight management at Boston Medical Center, and professor of medicine and pediatrics at Boston University School of Medicine.

“A lot of football players have a BMI of 30, 35 or even 40, but they are all muscular, so they are extremely healthy,” Apovian said.

If you are not sure if your high BMI number is due to fat or muscle, Apovian has recommended that you visit a weight loss specialist to have more specific tests done.

How to lower your BMI number

It is possible to lower your BMI through diet and exercise, Clifford said.

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The first step is to understand that it is not your fault, he takes up and takes responsibility for your body.

Say to yourself, “I do not know what caused it, but I am going to do something about it,” he said.

Changing your diet is an important step in the weight loss process, Clifford emphasized. Individuals need to limit the amount of processed foods they consume and replace them with whole grains, fruits and vegetables.

Eating thoughts is another way to lose weight, said Dr. Robert Kushner, professor of medicine at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago, said. This is where people drive slower as they eat and enjoy the food in front of them.

“It slows down, puts down your fork … plan ahead what you eat and know what portion sizes are,” Kushner said.

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People may not have less than 1,200 to 1,500 calories a day without the permission of a weight loss specialist.

If you eat too much, Apovion has recommended that you create a moderate calorie deficit to lower your BMI. People should lose about 1 to 2 pounds a week, which shows that your efforts are bearing fruit.

The next step in lowering your BMI is to exercise.

About 150 minutes of exercise a week, which breaks down to about 20 minutes of exercise a day, is a great way to lower your body weight, Clifford said.

Apovian also recommended weight training at least twice a week because it can build muscle, which then helps burn fat.

Clifford suggests taking a walk to get out of the house, do virtual workouts, and go to the gym as soon as it’s safe.

For more extreme cases or general help, he stressed that it is important to visit a weight loss specialist.

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