BMI may be controlled by regular meals

Although there are some issues with the measure of Body Mass Index (BMI), it is the commonly accepted method for determining if someone is overweight or obese. It is a measurement of a person’s weight in kilograms divided by their height in metres.

If the result is less than 18.5, the person can be considered to be underweight, in other words they are not carrying enough weight on their frame. The normal weight range is between 18.5 and 24.9. If a person is possibly overweight they will be in the range of 25 to 29.9. Those who are considered obese have a BMI of 30 or more.

It is well recognised that missing breakfast will result in a lower metabolism as it has not been stimulated at the start of the day. This has been shown to contribute to increasing weight. Therefore people who miss breakfast regularly may have a higher BMI.

S recent study in Finland has shown that establishing and maintaining a regular eating pattern will encourage a person’s metabolise to function properly and assist in reducing obesity. The study focussed on adolescents and had more than 4000 participants.

It was found in the study, that having five regular meals a day, even for those who are predisposed to obesity, will not increase BMI in those taking part. The five meals were; breakfast, snack, lunch, snack and dinner.

The study followed the male and female participants from pregnancy to16 years old, and found that the increased food intake over the years did not result in a higher BMI.

The study results have been published in various journals, including; International Journal of Obesity, the International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Nutrition, Metabolism and Cardiovascular Disesase, and PLOS One.

This article has been written by Rachelle Williams – The Green Food Safety Coach