Dr. Michael Will | Frederick, Urbana Maryland Cosmetic Surgery Blog | Cosmetic Surgery | Urbana, Frederick, Maryland

waist-to-height ratio BMI, the current standard for determining if you are at a healthy weight, may be on its way out.

According to researchers, a more accurate way to measure whether you are at risk for obesity-related diseases is your waist-to-height ratio.

Your BMI, which stands for body mass index, calculates a number based on your height and weight that shows if you are a normal weight, overweight, obese or underweight. However, it doesn’t take muscle mass or the distribution of fat around the body into consideration.

A review of 31 studies that included more than 300,000 men and women found that waist-to-height ratio was better than BMI at predicting certain health risks associated with obesity, including high blood pressure, diabetes, heart attacks and strokes.

“Keeping your waist circumference to less than half your height can help increase life expectancy for every person in the world,” according to study leader Dr. Margaret Ashwell.

Dr. Ashwell calls the waist-to-height ratio a “one-size-fits-all approach,” and says it should replace BMI and waist circumference alone as a way to assess body fat and health risks.

Calculating Your Waist-to-Height Ratio

Waist-to-height ratio is easy to determine—all you need is a tape measure. Measure your waist at belly-button level, and then measure your height if you don’t know it. Divide your waist measurement by your height to get your percentage.

Another advantage of waist-to-height ratio is its simplicity: keep your waist circumference to less than half your height. BMI is harder to calculate, and you have to remember or look up whether your BMI number falls into a healthy range.

Cosmetic Surgery & Weight Loss

For those who have lost a significant amount of weight, body contouring procedures can remove excess skin from areas such as the arms, abdomen and thighs.

Liposuction is also popular for removing stubborn areas of fat that don’t go away with diet or exercise. Patients should already be at a healthy weight for this procedure, as it is not meant for weight loss.

Sources: WebMD, Medical News Today

paying for cosmetic surgery If you choose to have cosmetic surgery, it is important to consult with your surgeon before the procedure and get an estimate for the cost of surgery.

While there are some rare instances when insurance covers the costs, such as after an accident, most of the time it is the patient’s responsibility.

“Consumers should be aware that cosmetic surgery is not covered under insurance, so all of the expenses must be paid out of pocket,” says Kevin Kautzmann, a certified financial planner.

Fox Business gives an overview of ten options for paying for cosmetic surgery, and here we offer a few of the highlights.

A health care or medical credit card is a credit card specifically for medical expenses and can be used for cosmetic procedures. Often these cards start with low promotional rates and can have reasonable payment plans.

If you don’t want to open a medical credit card, you could use your regular credit card or apply for a new one and take advantage of a 0% introductory period during which you could pay off your procedure.

For some, saving up and paying cash for a cosmetic procedure makes the most sense. “It may not be sexy, but the best answer for most people is to save each month until you have the bill covered—then get the procedure done,” says financial adviser Michael Masiello.

You can also check with your surgeon’s office to see if they offer payment plans. Some will create a plan tailored to a patient’s budget.

It may seem unconventional, but you could ask others to contribute to your procedure fund as a gift. This has become easier and more popular with online sites, such as DepositAGift.com and MyRegistry.com, as family or friends can make a deposit toward your procedure without even having to mail a check.

Learn more about financing options at Will Surgical Arts in Frederick County, Maryland.