Why Measuring BMI And Height Is So Important

In order to track obesity levels and help curb obesity, a proposal has been released by NICE (National Institute For Health And Care Excellence) that doctors should receive a financial incentive for recording the height and BMI of patients aged 18 and over.

Currently 67% of men and 57% of women are classed as obese and BMI (body mass index) is seen as the most reliable measurement of a person’s excess body fat. A report also recently published by Pharmacy Magazine in December 2014 claimed GPs underestimate BMI in relation to height. So why is BMI so important?

Obesity in the UK has caused a major strain on the NHS, and it is estimated to cost a massive £30 billion a year to accommodate and treat illnesses associated with obesity. A high BMI rating of 30 and above is classed as obese which can increase the risk of cancer, heart disease, asthma and diabetes.

BMI can be calculated by taking a patient’s weight and height; the quickest and most accurate way of calculating BMI however is by using weighing scales that also measures BMI, and one that has a height measure also integrated. Foursquare Health offers a wide range of Seca digital floor scales that measure BMI quickly and accurately. All are Class III approved and legal for medical use, and make an ideal investment for providing a BMI reading of each patient that visits your surgery.

National Obesity Observatory states: “Although BMI is not a ‘gold standard’ measure of overweight or obesity, its advantages in terms of ease of measurement, established cut offs and existing published statistics make it the only currently viable option for producing high level summary figures at population level.”

Research has shown that adults consistently overestimate their height and underestimate their weight, and if you're middle-aged then you're even more likely to get the figures wrong. The differences between self-reporting and being measured varied according to age and sex, and the largest differences occurred in adults over the age of 50.

Seca’s digital floor scales come with an optional height measure and a printer that comes as standard, and these body fat scales provide the end user with everything they could want in order to monitor a patient's physical health.

As a recommended GP supplier, Four Square Healthcare we offer a wide variety of top quality height and weight scales to serve all your measurement needs. Click here to visit our online store.