One of the most common problems of the XXI centurycentury is a matter of obesity. According to WHO, annually the number of people suffering from this disease is growing exponentially. Particularly depressing situation develops among children: according to the results of 2010, the age group up to 5 years was characterized by the presence of excess weight (which is more than 40 million children). Obesity can and should be treated, and it can be prevented in the easiest way - to track the index of Quetelet, it's the body mass index (BMI).

What is BMI?

The body mass index (which is also the body weight index) ismedical indicator of human health. Nature does not tolerate monotony, including in relation to the appearance of man. The physical shape is affected by both growth and weight. Therefore, when diagnosing obesity, both of these indicators are taken into account. Weight Index body is calculated using a variety oftechniques. The classical formula of calculation is considered to be such that the indicator is equal to the result of dividing the weight in kilograms by the height in meters, squared.

Despite the fact that most dieticians, includingincluding WHO consultants, consider this formula to be correct and sufficient, some of them recommend taking into account the calculation of BMI and the type of physique of a person. In contrast, individual researchers consider the only sufficient knowledge of only the growth of man. In this case, the body index can be calculated by a simple formula: a person's height minus 100 for men or 110 for women (Paul Brock's method). Consider in more detail the categories of BMI Ketl designed for adults and children.

The Quetelet index in adults

Growth - weight BMI, used by most doctors in diagnosing obesity in adults, is based on the deduction of a certain coefficient.

Thus, there are 5 ranges characterizingphysical condition of a person. To the first, the "branch" is from 20 to 25 units. In this case, the weight of a person is considered normal. All other categories indicate the presence of a painful condition. So, the range of 25-26 is correlated with overweight, speaking of a predisposition to obesity. "Fork" indicators in the 26-30 can mean obesity of the first degree. If the obtained coefficient fluctuates between 30 and 40, then there is obesity of the second degree, and above 40 - the third degree.

Recently presented body indexis only a guide. This is due to the fact that most doctors are increasingly inclined to believe that two indicators (height and weight) are not enough. And therefore they supplement research with the type of physique, gender and age, and in certain situations and the patient's condition (in this case we are talking about the state of pregnancy).

In addition to obesity, the body index effectively identifies andanother problem of our time is anorexia. In this disease, the ITM is equal to or less than 17.5. However, the indicator should be less than 20.

Quetelet index in children

Despite the fact that the formula for calculating BMI forof children remains unchanged, WHO adjusted the ranges of child health. The adjustment took place not only in terms of numerical indicators: the age of the child was also taken into account. So, from 2 years of age and ending with the 19th anniversary, the child falls under a special table, called the Quetelet Index 2. This takes into account the gender of the child. Here is an example: a child has reached the age of two. At the same time, his height is 97 cm, and weight - 16 kg. These parameters do not fit into the generally recognized child development tables approved by WHO. And so it is especially important for parents to know in which group their child is. We calculate by the above formula and get a BMI equal to 17.02. Next, determine the sex of the child - male - and track the category. The above indicator falls into the zone of children with a healthy diet and should not cause concern. It is also worth noting that the state of the child's BMI should be strictly controlled by the physician who watches him.

Summing up, it should be concluded thatBMI is an important indicator of the health of both adults and children. Periodic tracking of it makes it possible to maintain a mobile lifestyle and prevent a variety of diseases associated with both obesity and anorexia.