Question:
writing letter

Please Help: In writing my letter of Medical Necessity, the first paragraph has a blank space provided for the submitter to fill in according to his/her BMI, but, I'm a dummy and can't figure it out. It states, "I am 5 ft. 6 1/2 inches tall and I weigh 350 pounds. My body mass index is 56.5. The body mass index is calculated by dividing a person's weight in kilograms by their height in meters squared. When a man's BMI is over 27.8, or a woman's exceeds 27.3, that person is considered to be obese. The degree of obesity associated with a particular BMI ranges from mild obesity at a BMI near 27, moderate obesity at a BMI between 27-30, severe obesity at 30-35, to very severe obesity for patients with a BMI of 40 or greater. Therefore, I am classified as being very severely obese. The annual number of deaths in America attributable to obesity has been estimated to be 300,000 deaths per year. With my abnormally high BMI, I am at an estimated _______percent increased risk of death at my present weight." Please, some smart person tell me what to put in the blank, given the stats. I just gave    — pam C. (posted on May 17, 2002)

May 17, 2002
You are so smart to ask that question, and I hope you get an answer. Don't feel bad about understanding that section. When I wrote my letter recently, I couldn't figure it out and left that whole section out. Good luck.
   — Joanie J.

May 17, 2002
I went to www.askjeeves.com and put in life span and found a calculator for finding your life expectancy---and on another site (NIDDK) I found a statement that obesity increases your mortality rate from 50 to 100%---tons of things to look at there maybe you will find something there
   — Linda L.

May 17, 2002

   — J B.

May 17, 2002
MABY IM A MORON, but why in the world are you writing your own letter of medical necessity? My doctors office took care of all of this? I am just curious.. :) Good luck though! Kim
   — Kim S.

September 30, 2002
I talked to surgeons ins lady and she told me to get a pen. Then she gave me a basic outline the pcp needed to use. I then wrote the letter myself and took it to pcp office. They typed it on office letter head and faxed to surgeon. Who knows better than you just what you history and co mo are? Good luck, Tawnda
   — Tawnda C.