Weight and BMI
The last several blogs in this forum have discussed how you can use nutrition to improve your health and to reduce your costs associated with long term care. Today I want to talk about another factor that impacts your need for long term care, your weight.
In the past weight was the primary health factor that doctors and insurance agents looked at when evaluating a patient. Today weight is viewed as only a single factor in a multi-factor formula used to determine your health risks. Most doctors and long term care insurance agents are going to be more interested in your BMI, body mass index, as opposed to just your body weight.
Body Mass Index is a number that is generated by comparing your weight to your height. The optimal BMI is somewhere between 18.5 and 24.9. If you fall below this range then you are considered underweight and may be prone to malnutrition and other health risks. However, you are at more risk by having a BMI over this range. If your BMI is between 25 and 29.9 then you are considered to be overweight and your risks for cancer, heart disease and other health problems is elevated. But your risks skyrocket once you top a BMI of 30.
If you are concerned about your long term health then you want to keep your body mass index between 18.5 and 24.9. This range will not only minimize your risks for chronic illnesses, but it will also reduce the number of long term care insurance claims that you need to make and the amount of money spent on your ltc health insurance.