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The
problem of obesity cuts across nationalities, age groups,
ethnic groups and genders. It is also a worrying health problem
as it shortens life spans and increases risk of contracting
medical conditions such as heart disease, high blood pressure,
stroke and diabetes etc.
Dr
Mabel Yap, a Singaporean doctor who has a PhD in nutrition
sparked the change in guidelines to the BMI, piqued by the
fact that heart attack rates are higher among Asians than
one would expect from their low obesity rate of five percent.
Dr
Yap started a two part study - one involving 3,000 people
on the link between BMI and body fat percentage, and another
involving 5,000 people on the link between BMI and cardiovascular
risks.
Dr
Yap found that an Asian who has the same BMI as a Caucasian
of the same age has four to five percent more body fat, indicating
that the BMI standards that had been followed since
1998 could not hold for Asians any more.
The
information prompted medical researchers in India, Hong Kong
and Malaysia to do further studies of their own nationals,
putting Singapore on the international health map.
Despite
the diverse range of population in these countries, all the
studies found that Asians have more fat than Caucasians of
the same built.
The
World Health Organisation (WHO) examined data from 10 Asian
countries and concluded that health risks for Asians begin
when they have a BMI lower than 25, long considered the top
of the category “good”. It therefore recommended
that Asians’ “normal” BMI range be lowered
to between 18.5 to 22.9.
Dr
Yap added that it is up to each Asian country to set its own
BMI cut-off points, based on how widespread and fatal weight-related
diseases are in their own countries.
| BMI (kg/m2) for Adults |
Health Risk |
| 27.5 and above |
High Risk |
| 23 - 27.4 |
Moderate Risk |
| 18.5 - 22.9 |
Low Risk (Healthy Range) |
| Below 18.5 |
Risk of nutritional deficiency diseases and osteoporosis |
Source: Health Promotion Board, Singapore
BMI = Weight (kg) / Height (m) x Height (m)
Tips
on losing weight sensibly
•
Check your BMI
• Set a realistic weight goal. Lose no more than 0.5
kg to 1 kg a week
• Eat a balanced, low-fat diet
• Include regular physical activity as part of your lifestyle
• Avoid slimming teas, drugs and pills unless under medical
supervision
• Aim for long-term sustained weight control instead
of short-term rapid weight loss
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