Earlier this month Medical News Today released an article entitled “What is a Healthy Weight?” Discussing factors like age, sex, height, bone density, etc. that affect a person’s ideal weight, the article emphasized that one person’s healthy weight can’t be compared to another’s. Since health and wellness is such an important part of Southern Plastic Surgery and more plastic surgery patients are seeking non-invasive forms of fat reduction, I felt the need to discuss how to determine a healthy weight.
It’s important to first determine what is healthy for you. There are a variety of tests to determine a healthy weight, but experts across the world still do not agree on a defined healthy weight. Tests like Body Mass Index (BMI) and Waist-Hip Ratio (WHR) help determine whether people are overweight, underweight, or at a healthy weight. However, there are still problems with these tests. For instance, BMI measures a person’s weight (in kilograms) divided by their height (in meters) squared, but it does not take into account body composition or where the weight comes from. A person with excess fat can have the same BMI as an athletic person who is very muscular. WHR does a better job of determining a healthy body weight as it compares the waist and hip measurements, but it still does not measure body fat or muscle-to-fat ratio.
The article concluded that it is more important to focus on true body composition rather than weight, which can be determined by body fat percentage measurement. Although it may not be so simple to go out and get a body fat percentage measurement, the article’s conclusion highlights the importance of focusing on eliminating fat instead of focusing on weight loss. It’s important to keep in mind, however, that some fat is necessary for survival.
As you may have read in my latest press release, there has been a recent increase in patients seeking non-invasive fat reduction. It’s understandable that patients would be more interested in fat reduction technology, like CoolSculpting®, that doesn’t require downtime, but what they fail to understand is that this type of procedure is made for a very specific patient who has very small, isolated area(s) of excess fat. Those patients with larger pockets of excess fat may be more suited for liposuction or a tummy tuck surgery. A procedure to tighten loose skin may be more appropriate for some patients. Because there are so many factors to consider when choosing a method of fat reduction, it is important to schedule a consultation with a board certified plastic surgeon who specializes in body contouring to help determine which procedure will best meet your fat reduction needs.
Whether or not you choose a cosmetic procedure for fat reduction, it is still important to eat healthy foods and exercise regularly to improve overall body composition and muscle-to-fat ratio. If you need help finding healthy recipes or workout tips, visit the rest of my health and wellness blog entries. For personal instruction, you can also seek the help of Daryl Madison, ACE certified personal trainer. Whether you’d like a customized diet or workout plan, Daryl can help you get on track.
For more information on health and wellness or plastic surgery, review the rest of my website or contact the office. Be sure to connect with me on Facebook and Twitter if you haven’t already to stay updated on the latest plastic surgery news.