Nestlé Caribbean Region. Take a High Five for Life.

Check Health, take a hi five for life

The BMI or Mass Index gives us an indication of how much fat a person has in relation to their weight and height. It helps to determine weather a person is underweight, normal, overweight or obese. Even though it does not provide us with a distinction between the fat and the non fat components of the overall body mass (muscle to fat ratio), it is still the most practical method to evaluate one’s degree of risk associated with obesity.

Your BMI is , if your BMI is less than 18.5, based on your height, you are considered to be underweight. You should speak to your doctor or health professional to help determine the possible causes, as well as for the best advice on weight gain.

Your BMI is , if your BMI is between 18.5 and 24.9, based on your height, you are considered to have a healthy weight. A healthy/ normal body weight is one that would lower your risk of nutrition-related diseases.

Your BMI is , if your BMI is between 25 and 29.9, based on your height, you are considered to be overweight. In this group, there is a growing risk to develop chronic illnesses such as hypertension, diabetes and high cholesterol.

Your BMI is , if your BMI is 30 or more, based on your height, you are considered to be obese. At this point, there is a moderate to high risk of developing chronic illnesses such as hypertension, diabetes and cholesterol.

Your BMI is , if your BMI is 40 or more, based on your height, you are considered Morbidly Obese. Suffering Morbid Obesity puts you at a very high risk of developing chronic illnesses such as hypertension, diabetes, cardiac arrest, arthritis and other life threatening illnesses.

It is very important to put life measures in place to reduce your weight and as such improve your health. The best way is usually to combine a healthy diet with regular physical exercise. You should speak to your doctor, health care professional, and dietician, to determine the best suited way for you to lose weight.

Let Colors be your Guide to Shop for Foods Rich in Goodness NEW!

Dark green leafy vegetables for leutein and zeaxanthin which help your eye vision i.e. green peas, okra, cucumber, spinach, kale, watercress, limes.

Orange and yellow is for beta-carotene which helps the body neutralize free radicals, and may reduce the risk of cancer. Found in carrots, pumpkin, corn, paw paws, mangoes, melons, oranges.

Red for lycopene which may reduce prostate cancer, found in tomatoes, puree, watermelons, pink grapefruit.

Purple, dark red and blue for flavonoids which keep our heart and blood vessels healthy, found in all berries, red cabbage, purple grapes, raisins, prunes, eggplant and beetroot.

Green, white and purple cruciferous vegetables for compounds which are protective against cancers, cardiovascular problems and cholesterol levels. Found in broccoli, cabbage, brussel sprouts, leeks, onions, garlic, celery, and cauliflower.