Body Mass Index is used by health professionals to calculate your estimated body fat based on your overall height and body weight. In addition, cholesterol is important for building cells, vitamin D, and hormones.
The amount of fat you carry in your body has a connection with your blood cholesterol levels, which is why these two health topics are interlinked. Excess weight can lead you to flood your bloodstream with bad cholesterol, which puts you at risk of cardiovascular issues such as heart disease.
You can now acquire a well woman check to monitor your BMI and receive medical advice on how to achieve a perfect balance for your weight and cholesterol.
What Is Cholesterol?
Cholesterol is a waxy molecule found in each cell of the body. Our body produces this molecule or else absorbs it from the food you eat. In addition, it is vital for producing estrogen, vitamin D, and progesterone.
Moreover, cholesterol plays an essential role in making bile which helps with the process of digestion. In addition, there are two types of cholesterol in your body which are:
LDL – Low-Density Lipoprotein, also referred to as ‘bad’ cholesterol, since it can block up your arteries.
HDL – High-Density Lipoprotein, also referred to as ‘good’ cholesterol, as your body needs it to function properly.
Optimum Cholesterol Levels for Women
High cholesterol levels may show more than 200 mg/dL of the total cholesterol in your body. However, women should understand their cholesterol in more depth as they are more susceptible to suffering from heart attacks and other health complications. Therefore, you should take a well woman check and check cholesterol in the following levels:
HDL
A low HDL level of below 50 mg/dL is a key cause of cardiovascular disease in women. On the contrary, HDL levels of 60 mg/dL or higher can reduce the risk of heart disease.
LDL
Your LDL levels should lie near these levels:
- Lower than 100 mg/dL, if you are a woman without any heart disease
- Lower than 70 mg/dL if you suffer from heart diseases or other severe health issues like diabetes or have crossed the age of 55 years.
Body Mass Index
Depending on your body weight and height, the body mass index (BMI) evaluates the approximate value of fat inside your body. You can find out your BMI by using this equation:
BMI = weight (in kg) ÷ height2 (in meters2)
In addition, you can also find several online BMI calculators. Have a look at these ranges to determine if you are within a healthy range.
| Body Mass Index | Weight Status |
| Below 18.5 | Underweight |
| 18.5 – 24.9 | Normal |
| 25.0 – 29.9 | Overweight |
| 30.0 and above | Obese |
However, you must know that BMI is not always accurate. It can not account for the total mass of your body as it does not consider muscle weight.
Rather it provides you with a rough idea if you need to work on losing weight. Since obesity can increase your chances of cardiovascular diseases, if you act in time, you can control your weight and prevent yourself from developing heart issues or suffering a heart attack.
