The most common method for measuring obesity rates, for population groups, is classifying by an index called the body mass index (BMI).
Body mass index (BMI) is defined as weight kg/height m2.
Adults with a BMI of 25.0–29.9 are considered overweight, and those with a BMI of 30 or greater are considered obese.
Obesity is a risk factor for many chronic disease including type 2 diabetes, heart disease, hypertension and stroke, gallstones and some cancers.
Nutrition-related factors including obesity are major risk factors for causes of death in New Zealand. The effect of increased body mass index (BMI) was estimated to be responsible for 11.5 percent of all deaths in 1997.
The NZ Immigration Service currently uses BMI as one of its criteria for entry to NZ.Is this justified?
What do you think?
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It is proposed that the Immigration Service continue using BMI as an entry criterion