Lecture on BMI and Ideal Body Weight 🍎

Key Concepts

Normal vs. Healthy

• Obesity in America: Becoming the norm but not healthy.
• Underweight in Santa Monica: Common but also not healthy.
• Miss America BMI Trends: Historically within a healthy range (20-22 BMI), but trends have shifted:
  • 1920s: Healthy BMIs (~21-22)
  • 90s-2000s: Very slim became popular
  • Now: More muscle, leading to slightly higher BMIs

Norm vs. Healthy

• Norm does not equal healthy.
• Most people in the US are obese or overweight; this is the norm but associated with higher disease risk.
• Focus: Preventing disease rather than body shaming.

Calculating Ideal Body Weight Using the Hamley Equation

Hamley Equation Overview

• Origin: From the 1950s, used in clinical settings.
• Formula for males:
  • Base: 106 lbs at 5 feet
  • +6 lbs per additional inch
• Formula for females:
  • Base: 100 lbs at 5 feet
  • +5 lbs per additional inch

Example Calculation

• 5'2" Female:
  • 5 feet: 100 lbs
  • +2 inches: 10 lbs
  • Ideal Body Weight: 110 lbs

Frame Size Adjustment

• Bracelet Method:
  • Use thumb and middle finger to form a bracelet around the wrist of the non-dominant hand.
  • Small Frame: Fingers overlap
  • Medium Frame: Fingers touch
  • Large Frame: Fingers do not touch
• Adjustment:
  • Small frame: Subtract 10% from Ideal Body Weight
  • Medium frame: No adjustment
  • Large frame: Add 10% to Ideal Body Weight

Example Adjustment

• 5'2" Female, Small Frame:
  • Ideal Body Weight: 110 lbs
  • Adjustment: -11 lbs (10% of 110 lbs)
  • Range: 99 - 110 lbs

Wrist Measurement Method

• Measure wrist circumference about an inch below wrist bone.
• Compare wrist measurement to height (both in cm).
• Provide a more precise frame size classification than the bracelet method.
• Action Items:
  • Measure wrist
  • Calculate frame size
  • Compare results with bracelet method for consistency

Note: Always validate the frame size result with better measurement methods if possible.