The Functional Significance of Low Body Mass
IndexThe Functional Significance of Low Body Mass
Index
On behalf of the UN ACC-Subcommittee on Nutrition, the International Dietary Energy Consultancy Group (I/D/E/C/G) has been established for the study of dietary energy intake in relation to the health and welfare of individuals and societies by the United Nations University. Its specific objectives are:
1. The compilation and interpretation of research data on functional and other consequences of deficiency, change or excess of dietary energy.
2. The identification of related research needs and priorities, and the promotion of needed research.
3. The publication of scientific and policy statements and other information on the significance of chronic deficiencies and excesses of dietary energy.
4. The identification and promotion of appropriate and practical means of corrective action.
I/D/E/C/G Steering Committee:
- Dr. N.S. Scrimshaw, UNU, Chairman
- Dr. J.G.A.J. Hautvast, IUNS
- Dr. B. Schürch, Executive Secretary
I/D/E/C/G Advisory Group (1992/93)
One-year term:
- Dr. W.PT. James, Aberdeen, Scotland, U.K.
- Dr. E. Pollitt, Davis, USA
- Dr. P. S. Shetty, Bangalore, India
Two-year term:
- Dr. E. Jéquier, Lausanne, Switzerland
- Dr. Jin Soon Ju, Seoul, Korea
- Dr. R. Uauy, Santiago, Chile
Three-year term:
- Dr. L. Allen, Storrs, USA
- Dr. A. Ferro-Luzzi, Rome, Italy
- Dr. R. Martorell, Ithaca, USA
Volume 48 • Supplement 3 • November 1994
European Journal of Clinical Nutrition
The Functional Significance of Low
Body Mass Index (BMI)
Proceedings of an IDECG Workshop held at
FAO Headquarters, Rome, Italy on 4-6 November 1992
Edited by W. P. T. James and A. Ralph
European Journal of Clinical Nutrition is published by Macmillan Press Ltd.
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ISSN 0954-3007
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Introduction: the challenge of adult chronic energy deficiency
Introduction
Indices of chronic energy deficiency in adults
The FAO initiative
A simplification in the approach to adult CED
The use of BMI alone in CED diagnosis
Challenge to come
The functional significance of modest reductions in BMI
Applications of BMI monitoring
Causes of CED
Conclusions
References
Discussion
Population differences in body composition in relation to the body mass index
Introduction
BMI and body composition: theoretical considerations
Interpreting BMI in developed countries
Interpreting BMI in developing countries
Body composition of Third World populations and BMI
The effect of shape
References
Discussion
Body mass index: its relationship to basal metabolic rates and energy requirements
Introduction
Nutritional anthropometric indices and their relationship to BMR
Do population groups in developing countries in the tropics have lower BMRs?
Low BMIs, BMRs and energy requirements
Changes in body weights and stature and their influence on BMI and energy requirements
References
Discussion
Low body mass index, physical work capacity and physical activity levels
Introduction
Work capacity or 'stress'
Low work capacity in a normal population
Relevance of form of activity
A theoretical analysis of effect; of BMI on activity
Proposed minimum level of BMI to effect work capacity and activity
BMI and the nature of work and activity
Conclusion
References
Discussion
Body mass index and economic productivity
Introduction
Evidence of nutrition/productivity links
Women's BMI and productivity
Summary and conclusions
References
Discussion
Maternal body mass index: the functional significance during reproduction
Introduction
The East Java Pregnancy Study (EJPS)
Results
Discussion
References
Discussion
Introduction
The Nutrition CRSP
Nutritional status and BMI of the women
Relationship between maternal BMI and other anthropometric variables
BMI and maternal weight gain
BMI and post-partum weight and fat retention
Additional analyses from the Mexico CRSP
Maternal BMI and size of the infant at birth
Maternal BMI and infant size during early lactation
Predictors of maternal BMI
Conclusions and implications for assessment
References
Discussion
Body mass index and lactation performance
Introduction
Methods
Basic physiology of lactation
Is BMI a useful discriminator of lactation performance in terms of breast-milk quantity?
Is BMI a useful discriminator of lactation performance in terms of breast-milk quality?
Conclusions
References
Discussion
Introduction
BMI trends
Morbidity experience
Correlation between low BMI and morbidity
Conclusions and summary
References
Discussion
Body mass index and illness in rural Sarawak
Introduction
Methods
Results
Discussion
Conclusions
References
Discussion
An assessment of nutritional factors affecting the BMI of a population
Introduction
Methods
Results
Discussion
References
Body mass index: its relationship with food consumption and socioeconomic variables in Brazil
Introduction
Methods
Results
1. BMI of adults and food consumption: some methodological issues
2. BMI and socio-economic level
3. The effect of age and sex on adult BMIs
4. Adult BMI and morbidity
5. Trends of BMI in Brazil
References
Discussion
Use of body mass index in the assessment of adult nutritional status in Vietnam
Introduction
Results
Effect of low BMI on health status
Conclusions
References
Discussion
Body mass index: a measure of the nutritional status Indian populations
Introduction
Results
Discussion
References
Discussion
Introduction
Methods
Results
Discussion
References
The body mass index of Chinese adults in the 1980s*
Introduction
Methods
Results
Discussion
References
Discussion
Body mass index values in the Cuban adult population
Introduction
Methods
Results
Discussion
Conclusions
Recommendations
References
Discussion
Body mass index defines the risk of seasonal energy stress in the third world
Introduction
The big-ecology of seasonality
Impact of seasonality on humans
Biological implications of seasonal weight loss
The world dimensions of biological seasonality
References
Discussion
Introduction
Optimum population BMIs in men
Optimum BMIs in women
Age-related changes in BMI and its implications for the CED classification
Conclusions
References
Use of BMI for monitoring and surveillance, practical issues
Introduction
'Conventional' nutritional surveillance
Proposed nutritional surveillance
Discussion
Appendix 1.
Appendix 2.
Analysing cross-sectional anthropometric data
Introduction
Analysis of anthropometric variables
Use of statistics for predictive purposes
Brief conclusions and recommendations
References
Discussion