Discover Your BMI
Key to Understanding Your
Health. Calculate Now!
Unlock the secrets of your health with our BMI calculator. Knowing your Body Mass Index helps you make informed decisions about your well being. Take the first step towards a healthier lifestyle by calculating your BMI today. Your journey to better health starts here. Calculate, assess, and embrace a healthier you!
What is Body Mass Index-BMI
BMI stands for body mass index. BMI is calculated by dividing the weight in kilograms by the squared height measured in meters. The units for measuring BMI are kg/m2. Other units such as stone or pounds need to be converted to kilograms before calculating the BMI. Similarly, the height in feet, inches, or centimeters must be converted to meters and squared prior to using it in the equation.
Importance of BMI calculator
BMI is an effective way to estimate the amount of extra weight on the body that could lead to various health problems. With increasing BMI, the body size increases leading to higher risks of obesity-related health conditions such as joint pains, breathing difficulties, metabolic conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, high uric acid, and even infertility. So a BMI calculator can tell you whether your current weight is healthy or not. This helps you make changes in your BMI if you are underweight or overweight. But BMI cannot measure the ratio of muscle vs bones vs fat in a body. So athletes having a lot of muscle mass may have a high BMI suggesting they are overweight but actually they have a high muscle-to-fat ratio or a healthy composition.
BMI Calculator
Understanding Body Mass Index (BMI) Categories
The BMI helps understand the body size and risks of obesity-related health conditions such as joint pains, breathing difficulties, metabolic conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, high uric acid, and even infertility. As the BMI increases with increasing weight the risks of these conditions also increase. With increasing BMI the options for treatment also change. The following table will help you understand the categories better. The BMI measurements are in kg/m2.
BMI 18.5 or less
You are underweight and need to visit our nutritionist for understanding healthy nutrition
BMI 25.1 to 30
BMI 18 to 25
You are in the ideal weight category
BMI over 30
Special diets and weight loss management programmes will be suggested as well as you need to consult a Nutritionist.
High BMI and possible health risks
Cardiovascular diseases
Hypertension
Hypercholesterolemia
Sleep apnea
What is a BMI calculator?
A body mass index (BMI) calculator is used to measure a person’s body fat based on their weight and height. It is widely used as an indicator for whether a person has an accurate body weight according to their height. The values obtained from the BMI calculator are categorized as; underweight, normal, overweight, obese, and morbidly obese. Being underweight or obese can expose you to significant health problems.
Who discovered the BMI calculator?
A Belgian mathematician, sociologist, astronomer, and statistician Lambert Adolphe Jacques Quetelet devised the basis of the BMI calculator between 1830 and 1850; at that time, it was known as the Quetelet index. It was later renamed as BMI calculator in 1972 by an American physiologist Ancel Keys, who studied the influence of diet on health. However, everything constitutes a particular set of pros and cons, and therefore BMI calculator also has some limitations. That is to say, BMI is not beneficial to predict the accurate health of an individual, specifically when applied to individuals with abdominal obesity, unusually short or tall stature, high muscle mass such as in athletes, etc. Nonetheless, BMI does provide an indication of the effect of your weight on health and is extremely useful and accurate for the statistical measurement of health in large groups. Although, for precise measurement of an individual’s weight and health, a further medical examination should be commenced. Fat that gathers around the waist and chest proves to be more dangerous for long-term health than the accumulation of fat around your hips and thighs. The body fat location is significant because it could be a better indicator of risks for many diseases.
How to calculate your BMI
From age 20 years onwards, the same BMI calculations are used for both men and women, which is based on your weight (in kg or pound) and your height (in meters or inches) and is universally expressed as kg/ m. It provides a simple calculation to measure your body fat to determine whether your body weight can be considered healthy. Using an online BMI calculator, you just have to put in your weight and height to know your BMI. But if you wish to calculate your BMI on your own, then you can use the following formula;
Formula with metric units
BMI = weight (kg) / {height ( m)} 2
Formula with imperial units
BMI = 703 x weight (lbs.)/ {height (in)} 2
How are BMI calculations interpreted for adults?
The BMI statistical categories are based on BMI score and apply to adults of age 20 years, for both men and women of all body types.
Less than 16
Between 16-18.5
Between 18.5-25
normal healthy weight
Between 25-30
overweight
Between 30-35
moderately obese
Between 35-40
severely obese
Over 40
morbidly obese
Why do you need to know your BMI?
- 1The most important reason for you to be aware of your BMI is so that you can assess your risk of being obese or underweight and prevent other health-related complications that come with it. Doctors encourage everyone to understand their BMI and keep track of their weight and health.
- 2The recent increase in the rate of obesity around the world has been very shocking. In fact, children are getting obese at an even faster rate. With the assistance of BMI calculator, you can find out what is the ideal weight range for your child and take steps accordingly to prevent childhood obesity.
- 3Generally, people have a rough idea about their weight, and they don’t exactly know whether they are underweight, overweight, or obese. For instance, if people know that their weight lies under the category of obesity, then it is more likely that they will take weight loss more seriously and may even seek professional help to do so. Studies have shown the risk of chronic diseases is significantly high in obese patients. Many of these complications can be avoided by keeping track of your body fat content and taking the right steps when needed.
- 4BMI provides useful information for important conditions that become more likely when a person becomes underweight or obese.
- 5 Measuring BMI and tracking it over time provides a simple and reliable source for people to know whether they are at a healthy weight or not. BMI calculator is a reliable and easy-to-use tool that is available for everyone.
Risks associated with obesity
High blood pressure
Coronary heart disease (CAD)
Stroke
Type 2 diabetes
High cholesterol
Gallbladder disease
Osteoarthritis
Sleep apnea
Breathing difficulties
Certain cancers
Mental illnesses (depression, anxiety, etc.)
Body aches, joint pain
Low quality of life
Generally, a higher mortality rate
Risks associated with being underweight
Being underweight also presents many health problems. Most often, the image portrayed through media and praised by society is unhealthy, and people, especially young girls, get influenced, which can cause serious health damage. In fact, in some countries, models who are underweight with a BMI of less than 18 have been banned so that they can’t encourage and promote an unhealthy image. For under-weight people, their BMI can encourage them to improve their diet and add more healthy foods to their diet. Being underweight has its own risks, including
Now that you can easily calculate your BMI and are aware of the significance of your BMI and weight on your health and wellness, you are a step closer to mastering your overall health and avoid many fatal consequences of being at an unhealthy weight. Knowledge without action is not useful, so take the right steps at the right time to live a healthy and quality life.
Bariatric surgery for losing weight
Bariatrics is known as the branch of medicine that focuses on dealing with the causes, prevention, and treatment of obesity. Weight loss surgery also called bariatric surgery, involves making changes in your digestive tract to help you lose weight and improve the quality of your life. It was first introduced in 1954 by Dr. Kremen and his team; they connected the patient’s upper and lower intestine, which bypassed most of the region where calories are absorbed. With the progressing time and evolving technology, many modifications were made in this procedure that resulted in discovering various methods for performing bariatric procedures that are being successfully used ever since. Bariatric surgery is the only procedure with the potential of curing numerous diseases, including diabetes, sleep apnea, high blood pressure, chronic headaches, high cholesterol, urinary incontinence, arthritis, and liver diseases. Bariatric surgery is the only proven approach that can provide durable weight loss, and it can be divided into the following categories;
Restrictive bariatric surgery
Whereas restrictive bariatric surgery reduces food intake and induces the feeling of fullness after small portions of a meal, decreasing your appetite
Malabsorptive bariatric surgery
Malabsorptive procedures decrease the absorption of fats, calories, proteins, and other nutrients from your food.
Combination of both
And sometimes, a combination of both methods is used; through a detailed discussion with your bariatric surgeon, you can decide which approach is best suited for you. Bariatric surgery is the term that encompasses all the surgical procedures to treat obesity. Bariatric surgery is recommended when someone is obese, at risk of or suffering from weight-related life-threatening comorbidities affecting their quality of life, and has been unable to lose weight through diet and exercise.
1 Gastric Bypass Surgery
It is a technique to divide the stomach into a smaller upper pouch connected to the esophagus (food pipe) and a larger remnant stomach. The small intestine is rearranged to connect with both of them, where the food bypasses the major part of the stomach and the proximal small intestine. Different techniques have been developed to reconnect the small intestine, thus leading to different procedures of gastric bypass, including:
In all gastric bypasses, 90% of the stomach is bypassed. In all gastric bypasses, the small gastric pouch that receives is 10% the size of the original stomach significantly reducing the amount of food consumed. Through a variety of changes including stretching of the small gastric pouch, the brain gets a fullness signal after having just a few bites. Thus reducing the intake significantly.
Once the food enters the small intestine, certain hormones are released that inhibit the further intake of food and thus are known as ‘satiety factors.’ Gastric bypass works effectively through both mechanisms, i.e., reducing the quantity of food consumption and also inhibiting hunger hormones, and enhancing satiety factors to limit the feelings of hunger. Hence these surgeries induce a prolonged satiety response reducing the hunger and food craves for prolonged periods.
2 Laparoscopic Roux-Y Gastric Bypass (RYGB)
This weight loss surgery decreases the size of your upper stomach to the size of a small pouch, more or less the size of an egg. This is done by stapling the upper section of your stomach and attaching the pouch directly to the part of the small intestine known as the Roux limb. This bypass forms the shape of “Y,” hence the name Roux-Y gastric bypass.
It takes about two to three hours for the whole procedure, and we perform it under general anesthesia. We insert the laparoscope and other surgical tools through the small incisions in your abdomen. We proceed to make a small pouch using the upper part of your stomach using a laparoscopic stapler. We make a connection or anastomosis of one end of the pouch with the small intestine to make the bypass. After testing for leaks with a dye study or upper endoscopy, we proceed to close the incisions.
The food you consume then bypasses the rest of the stomach and small intestine and reduces the absorption of fat and calorie from the food you eat. It can help you to lose about 100 pounds of extra weight. It may also help in reversing type 2 diabetes and stop heartburn and acid reflux.
3 Laparoscopic Mini-Gastric Bypass
This procedure makes your stomach smaller in size by dividing the normal stomach into two parts a mini stomach and the large stomach. After your surgery, the passage allows food to come in contact with the mini stomach only. The other part of your stomach stays in its place, active and producing gastric juices to aid in digestion, and it just does not comes in contact with food. Your new mini stomach can hold up to 4-6 ounces of food, and as it does not have much capacity, you won’t need to consume food in high quantities. In fact, a small amount of food proves to be very helpful to feel full.
Laparoscopic staples are used to make the division in your stomach. After that, a part of the small intestine is brought closer to the end of the mini stomach, and a connection or anastomosis is made between the small intestine and the mini stomach. It is done to provide a passage to the contents of the new stomach and provide a pathway to the food to go further. The larger part of the stomach also remains connected to the small intestine, and it helps in digestion by releasing digestive juices, which travel through the first half of the small intestine and join the second half of the small intestine, which is connected with the mini stomach.
Mini gastric bypass is almost the same as gastric bypass, the main difference being that there is less rerouting in the mini bypass than the traditional bypass. It is also minimally invasive, and the procedure takes less time than the standard bypass.
4 Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy
It is a restrictive weight-loss surgical procedure and does not involve the component of malabsorption of fats and calories from the food you consume. Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy involves resection of two-thirds of the stomach to provide reduced appetite and increased satiety or fullness. It surgically and permanently reduces the size of the remnant stomach. Weight loss through sleeve gastrectomy occurs as a result of two reasons, i.e., by reducing the size of the stomach, the intragastric volume is unable to accommodate a large meal and thus diminishes the appetite. Secondly, decrease in the levels of the hunger hormone Ghrelin as a result of resection of the gastric fundus, the upper part of your stomach, and the location of production of ghrelin.
Advanced Laparoscopic Procedures
Laparoscopic surgery, also called minimally invasive procedure or keyhole surgery is a modern surgical technique. The key element is using a laparoscope which is a long, slender cannula with a tiny camera at the end attached to a long fiber-optic system. It projects the inside image of the affected area by sneaking in from distant but a more accessible location. The first laparoscopic surgery was introduced in 1910, which quickly gained popularity for performing various surgeries.
Advanced laparoscopic procedures are performed using four to six small incisions, usually 0.5-1.5 cm long in your abdomen rather than the traditional incision of a minimum of 20 cm in open surgery. Then, your abdominal cavity is inflated with carbon dioxide to lift the abdominal wall away from the organs and provide an operating space in the abdomen. The laparoscope and surgical instruments are inserted into your abdomen through these small incisions, and the laparoscope transmits a magnified image of the abdomen on a video monitor. Laparoscopic procedures include surgeries performed on your abdominal and pelvic region.
Benefits of advanced laparoscopic procedures
Many people need surgical treatment to tackle certain health issues, but traditional open surgery is associated with huge surgical scars and pain, often leaving patients in bed for a long time. Fortunately, we live in an era of constant innovation in the medical field, and advanced laparoscopic surgery is one of the blessings of these times, which offer many benefits, including;
Limitations of Advanced Laparoscopic Procedures
Although laparoscopy has become the standard procedure to treat many conditions such as splenectomy and cholecystectomy, it can still not be performed on everyone. A few conditions represent absolute contraindications for a laparoscopy; for instance, if your appendix has burst and infection has spread in the surrounding tissues, then an open appendectomy is preferred.
Laparoscopic Heller’s Myotomy for Achalasia
We use laparoscopic minimally invasive surgical procedure Heller’s Myotomy to treat achalasia. Achalasia is an esophageal disorder that makes it harder to swallow food or liquids and let them pass into the stomach. It happens because the lower esophageal sphincter, which is located at the end of your esophagus, is tight and does not relax; therefore fails to open and block the way for food to enter the stomach. As a result, food then builds up in the esophagus, causing fullness, reflux, pain, and other symptoms.
Laparoscopic Heller’s Myotomy is currently the standard treatment for achalasia. The Heller myotomy is an esophagostomy, laparoscopically cutting the esophageal sphincter. Its success rate is very high and usually permanent. It is performed under general anesthesia, in which surgical instruments are inserted through small incisions in the abdomen to cut the lower esophageal sphincter muscle fibers. During this procedure, a flap of the upper stomach is wrapped around the esophagus (fundoplication) in order to avoid acid reflux GERD in the long term.
Why should you have Heller’s Myotomy?
Laparoscopic Heller’s myotomy aims to improve swallowing in achalasia patients and allowing the esophagus to empty and let the food pass through, so you should be able to swallow your food. It is important to know that achalasia is a lifelong condition, and normal swallowing cannot be restored.
Laparoscopic inguinal or groin hernia repair
The inguinal region of your body, also known as the groin, is located on the lower portion of the anterior abdominal point, the point when your abdomen transitions into the lower body. A hernia occurs when fatty tissue or an organ pushes through a weak place in the abdominal wall and bulges out. It can be painful and can get bigger with time. In some rare cases, it can also lead to life-threatening complications. Every hernia does not need surgical treatment; it depends on size and symptoms. A surgical hernia repair is consists of pushing the bulge back inside the body part that should contain it with the help of mesh and keep it there.
Reducible Hernia
If your hernia goes away when you lie down, or you can push it back into the abdomen, this is called a reducible hernia. This type of hernia is small and causes none or few symptoms. In this case, you might not need surgical treatment, but getting your condition checked and getting a medical consultation is the best course of action.
Incarceration and strangulation of the hernia
Inguinal hernia repair using mesh originated in the early 1990s and is now one of the most commonly performed repairs in the world. Inguinal hernia accounts for 75% of all abdominal wall hernias, with a lifetime risk of 27% in men and 3% in women.
Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy
Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is a surgical procedure that is performed to remove your gallbladder. The gallbladder is a small pear-shaped organ located on the upper right side of your abdomen. It provides storage for a substance called bile which is produced in the liver. Bile helps in the digestion of fatty foods. We make small incisions on the right side of your abdomen and insert surgical equipment through them to remove the gall bladder. Gall bladder problems can cause pain which;
Laparoscopic Appendectomy
Laparoscopic appendectomy is a surgical procedure performed to remove your appendix. Commonly it is done as an emergency surgery to treat appendicitis which is the inflammation of your appendix. The appendix is a small tube-like pouch attached to your large intestine. It is located on the lower right side of your abdomen. The exact role of the appendix is unknown, and the body can still function normally without an appendix.
When the appendix becomes swollen and inflamed, bacteria can quickly multiply inside it and lead to the formation of pus. This buildup of the bacteria can cause pus, and it can lead to pain around the belly button that advances to the lower right side of your abdomen. Walking and coughing can make the pain worse. You might also experience nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.
It is extremely important to get the treatment right away if you are experiencing the symptoms of appendicitis. If you leave the condition untreated, the appendix can burst, which can be life-threatening. Appendectomy is the standard treatment for appendicitis, and it can be performed as an open appendectomy or laparoscopic appendectomy. Based on your condition, it is decided which procedure you need. Laparoscopic appendectomy is performed through small incisions in your abdomen and provides quick recovery. Whereas in open appendectomy larger incision is used, and the recovery period is longer than laparoscopic procedure. It is usually performed when your appendix is ruptured and has infected the other organs.
Laparoscopic abdominal hernia repair
An abdominal hernia happens when an organ or a piece of tissue protrudes out through a weakening in your abdominal wall. Your abdominal wall is made up of different layers of muscles and tissues, and weak points in these layers can develop due to various reasons such as after pregnancy, or prior abdominal surgery, etc. There are different types of abdominal hernias, including; ventral hernia, ventral umbilical hernia, incisional hernia, and diaphragmatic hernias, etc.
Symptoms of abdominal hernia
Hernias commonly occur in both men and women, but symptoms can vary; they can cause some form of pain or discomfort and won’t go away on own their own. If you have a ventral hernia in your abdominal region, you may be able to see or feel a bulge on the outer surface. Typically, patients suffer mild pain, aching, and pressure sensation at the site of the hernia. The pain worsens with any activity that puts pressure on the abdomen, such as running, heavy weight lifting or bearing down bowel movements. Some people may have a bulge, but they don’t have any discomfort or other symptoms.
Treatment of abdominal hernia
Almost all hernias are treatable through hernia repair surgery. Abdominal hernia repair can be performed as an open surgery or laparoscopic procedure. Your surgeon may choose to sew your natural tissue back together, but frequently the hernia repair requires placement of mesh in or around the abdominal wall for a sound closure.
Laparoscopic Adrenalectomy
Adrenalectomy is the surgical procedure performed for the removal of the adrenal gland. Adrenal glands are triangular-shaped small, yellow-bronze glands located on the top of your kidneys. Their role is to produce hormones such as estrogen, progesterone, steroids, cortisol, cortisone.
Adrenal glands provide essential hormones to regulate your body fluids and salt balance, blood pressure, sugar metabolism, and muscle development. Like kidneys, only one adrenal gland is enough to live a normal life.
Reasons for removing adrenal glands
It is primarily required in the case of tumors of adrenal glands. It is performed for a variety of benign and malignant conditions ranging from pheochromocytoma and hyperaldosteronism to adrenal cancers. Adrenalectomy can be done through the laparoscopic procedure or open procedure. Laparoscopic adrenalectomy is indicated for many benign conditions, such as Conn’s tumor or sporadic pheochromocytoma; both of these are benign tumors that secrete hormones that can make the patient’s blood pressure extremely high. Also, for hormonally inactive tumors that are found while looking for some other condition, laparoscopic adrenalectomy is an excellent option.
Open surgery for removing the adrenal gland is indicated in case of adrenal cancer and in conditions where there is an increased risk of adrenal cancer, such as for large tumors or for those associated with multiple endocrine neoplasias. An open procedure is better in certain cases because both sides can be examined carefully and can be dealt with in case of a spread.
Laparoscopic Splenectomy
Splenectomy is the surgical procedure done to remove your spleen. The spleen is an organ that is located under your rib cage at the upper left side of your abdomen. The spleen helps in fighting infections, and it filters unneeded materials such as old or damaged blood cells from your blood.
Reasons for Removing a Spleen
The most common ground for splenectomy is to treat a ruptured spleen that commonly occurs as a result of abdominal injury. Other conditions for splenectomy may include;
Splenectomy is performed either through the laparoscopic procedure or open procedure. Laparoscopic splenectomy is the gold standard procedure to remove the spleen; however, the method depends upon the size and damage of the spleen. After the removal of the spleen, other organs in your body take over the functions that were previously performed by the spleen. You can live an active lifestyle without a spleen; however, you are at an increased risk of getting sick. Certain vaccines against serious infections are recommended as a preventive measure.
Laparoscopic anti-reflux surgery
The need for laparoscopic anti-reflux surgery arises due to acid reflux, also called GERD Gastroesophageal reflux disease. The most common and irritating symptom for getting anti-reflux surgery is heartburn that doesn’t go away with medications and lifestyle changes. Acid reflux occurs when the food or fluids from your stomach backs up from the stomach into the esophagus because of the weakness of the lower esophageal sphincter (LES). It is also done in the case of
Medical Tourism by ALSA Pakistan for Advanced Laparoscopic and Bariatric surgery
Over the last few years, Pakistan has become a favorite destination for medical tourism. Pakistan not only offers a safe destination for tourism but also has excellent internationally qualified doctors. Private medical facilities offer international standards of healthcare at a fraction of the cost abroad. At ALSA Pakistan we take pride to offer the best possible international standards of hygiene, sterilization, and top-quality healthcare with reasonable cost for our clients. We offer an extensive range of advanced laparoscopic and bariatric procedures with excellent patient care. Dr. Tahir Yunus stands among the top surgeons of Pakistan with extensive experience not only in Pakistan but also in the USA and Saudi Arabia. He completed his six-year general surgery training at William Beaumont Hospital, Michigan, to become certified by the American Board of Surgery. He then completed a subspecialty fellowship in Advanced laparoscopic and bariatric surgery at the University of California, San Francisco. He is also certified in the medical and surgical management of obesity by the American Board of Obesity Medicine. He has over 20 years of experience and is exceptionally skillful in performing all types of bariatric and advanced laparoscopic procedures. He is joined by a group of internationally qualified physicians and healthcare providers to provide comprehensive care to all our patients with their wellness as a priority.
Obesity has taken a toll on humanity all over the world, and we strive to treat obesity using all mediums, including lifestyle changes, psychological counseling, pharmacological interventions, and surgical procedures. We provide a state-of-the-art facility with strict hygiene standards. At ALSA Pakistan, we pay complete attention to all your needs and ensure your comfort. We use the latest equipment with pinpoint accuracy and precision to provide the best results. We are aware of the insanely high cost of medical procedures in other countries, especially in western countries, but with ALSA Pakistan; you can get the best services at a very affordable cost.
With ALSA Pakistan, you don’t have to worry about air tickets, hotel reservations, travel, or commute as we take care of all those things for you. All you need to do is focus on your health and leave the rest in our capable hands. As part of our medical tourism program, we take the responsibility to arrange accommodations for you according to your needs and also schedule recreational activities, which may include guided tours to historical places, reservations in restaurants, opera, theatre, or concert bookings, car tours around the city, etc. as these activities prove refreshing for the body and the soul and help you relax. We thoroughly and carefully plan the timeframe of your recreational activities, so you can fully enjoy the experience of exploring new places comfortably while getting better.
