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Body Mass Index BMI

The body mass index (BMI) or Quetelet index is a value derived from the mass (weight) and height of an individual. The BMI is defined as the body mass divided by the square of the body height, and is universally expressed in units of kg/m2, resulting from mass in kilograms and height in metres.

BMI calculator for adults BMI calculator for chidlren


What your BMI means
Once you have calculated your BMI, you can work out your healthy weight range.

If you have a BMI of:
  • Under 18.5 – you are considered underweight and possibly malnourished.
  • 18.5 to 24.9 – you are within a healthy weight range for young and middle-aged adults.
  • 25.0 to 29.9 – you are considered overweight.
  • Over 30 – you are considered obese.


For older Australians over the age of 70 years, general health status may be more important than being mildly overweight. Some researchers have suggested that a BMI range of 22-26 is desirable for older Australians.

Some exceptions to the BMI rule
BMI does not differentiate between body fat and muscle mass. This means there are some exceptions to the BMI guidelines, including:
  • Muscles – body builders and people who have a lot of muscle bulk will have a high BMI, but are not overweight.
  • Physical disabilities – people who have a physical disability and are unable to walk may have muscle wasting. Their BMI may be slightly lower, but this does not necessarily mean they are underweight. In these instances, it is important to consult a dietitian who will provide helpful advice.
  • Height – BMI is not totally independent of height and it tends to overestimate obesity among shorter people and underestimate it among taller people. Therefore, BMI should not be used as a guide for adults who are very short (less than 150 cm) or very tall (more than 190 cm).
  • People of different ethnic groups – Asians and Indians, for example, have more body fat at any given BMI compared to people of European descent. Therefore, the cut-offs for overweight and obesity may need to be lower for these populations. This is because an increased risk of diabetes and cardiovascular disease begins at a BMI as low as 23 in Asian populations. Some populations have equivalent risks at a higher BMI, such as people of Torres Strait Islander and Maori origin.

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⇐General Information⇒
 

Boostrix - DTP Polio vaccine



BOOSTRIX-IPV is a vaccine used as a booster to prevent four diseases, diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough) and poliomyelitis (polio) in adults and children aged 4 years and older who have been previously vaccinated against these diseases. The vaccine works by causing the body to produce its own protection (antibodies) against these diseases.

Diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis are all serious life-threatening diseases caused by bacterial infection. Poliomyelitis is an infectious disease caused by viral infection.

Diphtheria
Diphtheria mainly affects the airways and sometimes the skin. Generally the airways become inflamed (swollen) causing severe breathing difficulties and sometimes suffocation. The bacteria also release a toxin (poison), which can cause nerve damage, heart problems, and death. The risk of serious complications and death is greater in the very young and elderly.

Tetanus (Lockjaw)
Tetanus bacteria enter the body through wounded skin. Wounds that are especially prone to infection are burns, fractures, deep wounds or wounds contaminated with soil, dust, horse manure or wood splinters. The bacteria release a toxin (poison), which can cause muscle stiffness, painful muscle spasms, fits and death. The spasms can be strong enough to cause bone fractures of the spine. The death rate is 10% of cases.

Pertussis (Whooping cough)
Pertussis is a highly infectious illness. The disease affects the breathing tract causing severe spells of coughing that may interfere with normal breathing. The coughing is often accompanied by a ‘whooping’ sound. The cough may last for 1-2 months or longer. Pertussis can also cause middle ear infections, long-lasting bronchitis, pneumonia, fits, brain damage and death. The risk of severe complications and death is greatest in infants under 6 months of age. The death rate is 0.5% for infants under 6 months of age.

Poliomyelitis (Polio)
Polio is a viral infection that can have variable effects. Often it causes only a mild illness but in some people it causes permanent injury or death. In its severest form, polio infection causes paralysis of the muscles, including those needed for breathing and walking. Polio infection can leave a person unable to breathe without the help of an iron lung machine, unable to walk without leg braces, or confined to a wheel chair. The limbs affected by the disease may be painfully deformed.

Vaccination is the best way to protect against these diseases. BOOSTRIX-IPV cannot give you or your child diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis or polio infection. The vaccine will not protect against diseases caused by other types of bacteria, viruses or organisms.

Ask your doctor if you have any questions about why this medicine has been prescribed for you. Your doctor may have prescribed it for another reason.

This vaccine is available only with a doctor's prescription.

There is not enough information to recommend the use of this medicine for children under the age of 4 years.

For more information visit www.mydr.com.au
The information in the above were collected from the internet,
either from government websites or from reasonably reliable health information sources.
They are for general information only and should not replace the need of seeking medical care during illnesses.
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