MY HEALTH CARE VISIT, pp. 9–10

Decorative Image: Image of a page from the Physical Activity and Healthy Eating Guide for Adult Women

The health care provider calculates BMI and explains what the patient's BMI means.

Speaker Notes:

Page 9 prompts you or a clinical staff member to record the patient's measurements, including height, weight, BMI, blood pressure, and cholesterol level.

Use the chart on page 10 to calculate the patient's BMI by locating the point on the chart where her height and weight intersect.

This is a good time for you to explain to the patient that BMI is a measure of her body fat and that it is based on height and weight, not just weight. You can also explain its significance:

• Underweight: BMI <18.5

• Normal weight: BMI 18.5–24.9

• Overweight: BMI 25–29.9

• Obese: BMI >30

Both overweight and obesity increase the risk for diseases, such as high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, and type II diabetes.

For additional information on BMI, overweight/obesity, see www.nhlbi.nih.gov or www.cdc.gov.