In general, BMI is an easy-to-perform method of screening for weight category, for example underweight, normal or healthy weight, overweight, and obesity.
Body Mass Index (BMI) is a mathematical calculation used to measure a person's percentage of body fat. It is determined by dividing a person's weight in pounds by the square of their height in inches. BMI serves as a screening tool to categorize weight, such as underweight, normal or healthy weight, overweight, and obesity.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than one-third of U.S. adults (34.9% or 78.6 million) are obese. Obesity is associated with various medical conditions, including:
BMI is commonly referenced in terms of bariatric surgery candidates and provides an indication of weight category and health. The BMI ranges are as follows:
While BMI correlates strongly with body fatness, it's important to note that even if two people have the same BMI, their level of body fatness may differ. Factors such as gender, age, and athletic status can influence body fat levels. A trained healthcare provider should conduct appropriate assessments to evaluate an individual's health status and risks.
If you have been struggling with your weight, it's essential to consider weight-loss options. Bariatric surgery can be an effective solution to address serious health implications associated with obesity. To determine if you are a candidate for bariatric surgery, we recommend scheduling a consultation with one of BASS Medical Group's esteemed bariatric surgeons.
It is important to note that weight gain should not be a result of recent pregnancy or a condition that may have caused significant short-term weight gain.
My name is Denise. I started my weight-loss journey in December of 2014 by visiting Dr. Chin. It was ten months of doctors’ appointments, weigh-ins, and medical tests. But I was focused and determined. Finally, my surgery date came. I was sleeved in October 2015, and it was the best decision I have ever made for myself. I was 57 years old at the time. I asked my surgeon, Dr. Chin, if I was too old for the surgery, and he said, “No one is too old to get healthy.” He was so very right. I was 310 pounds at my heaviest, pre-surgery. I was pre-diabetic, and had high blood pressure. My back, knees, and ankles hurt most of the time, and I was always short of breath. Those were just the medical conditions I had because of my weight. I was self-conscious and depressed. I was very unhappy. Surgery was a piece of cake (no pun intended). I was walking on the treadmill within two days. Soon, I was amazed at the transformation I was having, both in my weight loss and with my attitude towards food. As the weight loss kept happening, I was gaining my health back. I am no longer on blood pressure medicine, and I am no longer pre-diabetic. My knees, back, and ankles don’t hurt anymore because I am not carrying so much weight. I can walk and move around without being short of breath. My confidence has returned, and I am so much happier now that I am 100 pounds lighter. I swim a mile five days a week, and walk three to four miles every day, and I enjoy it. There are so many accomplishments that have come from losing weight like shopping in the regular size section, fitting in any chair, crossing my legs, not having to ask for an extension on the airplane, and the list goes on. The only regret I have is not having this surgery sooner. I would like to thank Dr. Chin and all of the staff involved in my life saving/changing surgery.
Dr. Brian Chin was born and raised in the Bay Area. After graduating from Acalanes High School in Lafayette he ventured cross-country to coastal Maine, where he graduated magna cum laude from Bowdoin College with a bachelor’s degree in physics and mathematics. From there, he went on to earn a master’s degree in applied physics from Columbia University. He earned his medical degree at the University of Michigan Medical School, then returned to California for his surgery residency at the University of California at San Diego, where he won the Department of Medicine’s Halasz Award for surgical consultation and the Department of Surgery’s Chairman’s Prize for teaching and service excellence. Additionally, he served as administrative chief resident. Following residency, Dr. Chin completed a fellowship in bariatric and advanced laparoscopic surgery at the University of California at San Francisco, working alongside world-renowned leaders at the forefront of laparoscopic surgery. Dr. Brian Chin is board certified in surgery by the American Board of Surgery and in advanced trauma life support by the American College of Surgeons. Dr. Chin also serves as a trauma surgeon at the John Muir Medical Center, which is certified as a level II trauma center by the American College of Surgeons and is Contra Costa County’s only trauma center. He sees patients in Walnut Creek and Brentwood.
Dr. Jason Moy is a graduate of the University of Michigan, where he earned both his undergraduate degree from the Honors College and Master of Public Health degree in molecular epidemiology from the School of Public Health. Dr. Moy received his medical degree from Michigan State University. Following medical school, he completed a surgical residency at William Beaumont Hospital. There, in addition to surgical training, Dr. Moy was extensively involved in surgical research and had the opportunity to both publish peer-reviewed articles and present at national and international surgical meetings. After completing residency, Dr. Moy continued his surgical training in New York City as a fellow in minimal access and bariatric surgery in a joint program with Cornell Medical College and Columbia University at New York Presbyterian Hospital. In New York, Dr. Moy trained with pioneers in laparoscopic and bariatric surgery, Drs. Michel Gagner, Alfons Pomp and Dennis Fowler. He also continued surgical research, publishing multiple times, including a paper on laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy technique. At Columbia, Dr. Moy was appointed a clinical instructor of surgery. Dr. Moy is an advanced laparoscopic surgeon, practicing the full scope of general surgery, bariatric surgery, and trauma surgery.
