| This phrase Body Mass Index or BMI, it seems to | | | | (Myalgic encephalomyelitis or Chronic Fatigue |
| me, has become the latest catch phrase of the | | | | Syndrome). He advised me that my body, that |
| Weight Loss Industry. But what does it actually | | | | looked nice and slim was in fact obese. At that |
| mean? How do I explain body mass index in | | | | time I once again weighed about 76kgs as before |
| simple terms? | | | | and everyone I knew said that this was ridiculous. |
| Let me tell you a story. | | | | I didn't exactly ignore him but I did put the idea |
| Many years ago I was involved in a small war in | | | | on the back-burner, so to speak. |
| Central Africa. In 1980 I suddenly took ill; just as | | | | Over the next few years I slowly put on more |
| the war was over and the "other side" won. I | | | | and more weight until about five years ago I |
| actually got a medal from the winners, the first | | | | stabilized at 98kgs (216lbs/15st6lbs). Four years |
| time, as far as I know that the winning side gave | | | | ago I had to stop working as my left leg and foot |
| the losing side a medal! But that is another story. | | | | and my overall energy level prohibited me from |
| Within a few weeks I had lost some 28 kilograms | | | | lasting a full day. Doctors told me that I should |
| (roughly 62 pounds or just over 4 stone). As I | | | | "learn to live with it - it is your age." As I am only |
| only weighed about 76kgs (162lbs/12st) this was | | | | 68 now this wasn't satisfactory and last year I |
| an amazing amount to lose. I had always been | | | | consulted a professional Bio-Mechanical Engineer. |
| pretty fit and was active, playing squash, golf and | | | | Once again this is another story but what he did |
| hiking (plus military patrols) but now I was | | | | tell me after two and a half hours of examination |
| completely debilitated. | | | | was that my Body Mass Index was 45.9%. "Let |
| It took quite awhile for the doctors to find out | | | | me explain body mass index this way," he told |
| what was wrong but eventually they did and I | | | | me. "You weigh 98kgs. The fat content of your |
| was "cured." Unfortunately, I was advised to put | | | | body, which I measured electronically, is nearly |
| on weight as quickly as possible but not given the | | | | 45kgs. So the rest of your body, the bones, the |
| correct information as to how to do this and | | | | muscles etc. only weighs around 53kgs. You have |
| from then on for many years to come I fought | | | | very little muscle and this is what has caused |
| against tiredness and lack of strength. | | | | your leg and feet to more or less collapse. We |
| Eventually, some ten years ago, I was introduced | | | | have to build up your strength by building up your |
| to the term Body Mass Index or BMI by a doctor | | | | muscle. |
| who had diagnosed me as suffering from ME | | | | |