The body mass index (BMI) is the measurement of body fat. It is derived by multiplying a
person's weight in pounds by 703 and then dividing it twice by the height in inches.
For example, a woman who is 5'5" and weights 125 pounds has a healthy BMI of 21. A woman
at the same height who weighs 90 pounds would have a dangerously low BMI of 15.
http://adam.about.com/reports/000049_9.htm
http://www.inch-aweigh.com/bmi.htm
BMI range – Mass (weight) of a 1.8 metres (5 ft 11 in)
Category 2 BMI Prime
kg/m person with this BMI
from 16.5 to from 0.66 to between 53.5 and 60 kilograms (8.42 and
Underweight
18.5 0.74 9.45 st; 118 and 132 lb)
Obese Class III over 40 over 1.6 over 130 kilograms (20 st; 290 lb)
The units used on this chart are metric, but the BMI is still the same. 16.5 is severely
underweight. Your BMI is 16.7.
There are differing opinions on the threshold for being underweight in females; doctors
quote anything from 18.5 to 20 as being the lowest weight, the most frequently stated
being 19. A BMI nearing 15 is usually used as an indicator for starvation and the health
risks involved, with a BMI <17.5 being an informal criterion for the diagnosis of
anorexia nervosa. According to this, you could be informally diagnosed with anorexia.
This chart is based on age as well. Follow the line from 16 up to the lowest 3rd percentile
and that’s about your BMI. A BMI that is less than the 5th percentile is considered
underweight and above the 95th percentile is considered obese.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Body_mass_index
Severely underweight individuals may have poor physical stamina and a weak immune
system, leaving them open to infection. According to Robert E. Black of the Johns
Hopkins School of Public Health, "Underweight status ... and micronutrient deficiencies
also cause decreases in immune and non-immune host defenses, and should be classified
as underlying causes of death if followed by infectious diseases that are the terminal
associated causes."[2] This means that being underweight can cause decreases in your
body’s immune system, and underweightness is considered cause of death if an infectious
disease kills you and you’re underweight.
In women, being grossly underweight can result in amenorrhea (absence of menstruation)
and possible complications during pregnancy. It can also cause anemia and hair loss.
Underweight is an established[3] risk factor for osteoporosis, even for young people. This
is a particular insidious consequence, because the affected persons do not notice the
danger, they can feel fit and may be brilliant for example in endurance sports. After the
occurrence of first spontaneous fractures the damage is often already irreversible.
Meaning, your bones could possibly be weak and brittle and easily broken for slight
things in some occasions. This is one of the things a yearly check-up with a doctor could
help you be aware of. During the checkup, the doctor tests for things like this, and if you
have osteoporosis, this is the only way you’ll know until a fracture occurs and gives you
a limp for life.
If an individual is severely underweight to the point where problems with his or her
health develop, it may be necessary for the person to make a concentrated effort to gain
weight. The treatment for an underweight individual is to increase the food energy intake
so that more food energy is consumed than is being used as work.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Underweight
Is that enough? I can find more information. Just let me know. I really hope this
convinces you. All of the above is taken from credible sources (Wikipedia takes it’s stuff
from credible sources, and medical articles are constantly checked for accuracy). Call me
when you read this. If I’m busy I’ll call you back as soon as possible. I want to talk
about this.
You know how we said sometimes it’s hard not to say that one thing? It’s hard right now,
because I really want to express how much I care for you. But I know it’s not time yet. I
do like you more than you can imagine, and I really hope this helps you-- I don’t hope it;
I pray that it does.