Health Risks

Q: Why should I need to know my BMI score?

By using the NowPatient BMI widget we can identify if you are at risk of developing certain long-term conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, coronary heart disease, and stroke. We can then provide you with interventions such as weight management and lifestyle modification advice or you can discuss the impact of your personalised risk with one of our telehealth clinicians. Reducing BMI has been shown to reduce the incidence of weight-related long-term health conditions.

Q: What parameters do you use to calculate the BMI score?

The NowPatient BMI widget uses age, height, weight, sex, and ethnicity.

Q: Why do you use my ethnicity?

If you are Black, Asian, or from another minority ethnic group, then you have an elevated risk of developing long-term chronic conditions such as Type 2 Diabetes. Ethnicity may increase the risk of health issues with a BMI of 23 or more.

Q: Why do you use my waist size?

Although we do not use this in the NowPatient BMI calculation, waist size is important because carrying too much fat around your stomach can raise your risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and stroke, even if you have a healthy BMI.

Q: How do I measure my waist size?

To measure your waist size, follow the following steps: Find the bottom of your ribs and the top of your hips Wrap a tape measure around your waist midway between these points Breathe out naturally before taking the measurement

Q: What should I do if my score puts me at risk of developing long-term conditions?

If the widget puts you ‘at risk’ of developing long-term health conditions, you can book a FREE consultation with one of our telehealth clinicians who will be able to educate you on lifestyle modifications that can help reduce your chances of developing health conditions associated with weight. Alternatively, you can speak with your doctor.

Q: What are the limitations of the score?

The NowPatient BMI widget uses your height, weight, age, sex, and ethnicity to work out if you’re a healthy weight, underweight, or overweight. The BMI score is not the perfect measure of your overall health. It can’t tell if you’re carrying too much fat or you’ve got a lot of muscle. The adult BMI doesn’t take into account age, sex, or muscular build. This means that: Older adults can have a healthy BMI but still have too much fat. This is because older adults tend to have more body fat than younger adults Women can have a healthy BMI but still have too much fat. This is because women tend to have more body fat than men with the same BMI If you’re from a black and ethnic minority group, you’re at increased risk of type 2 diabetes with a BMI of 23 or more An athletic adult with a lot of muscle may have a high BMI but not be overweight. This is because BMI can’t tell the difference between fat and muscle Taking these limitations into account, the BMI is a relatively straightforward and convenient way of initially assessing your weight. If you are pregnant, you should use your pre-pregnancy weight to work out your BMI. Using your pregnancy weight may not be accurate.

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Health Risks

By continuously monitoring your health profile and signals, NowPatient is able to identify risks that you may have to developing certain long-term health conditions. This allows us to make targeted clinical interventions such as counselling on lifestyle changes or getting access to preventative treatments.

What is your health risk?

A health risk is something that increases your chance of developing a disease. For example, being overweight may put you at higher risk for certain conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, or a stroke. That doesn’t mean that you will definitely get these conditions. You can take steps to lower your risk by making lifestyle changes or getting access to treatments, if eligible.

How does NowPatient create these insights?

We create personalized risk calculations or insights using methods that are based on clinical evidence and have been proven to be reliable in clinical settings.

You can view your risks to certain conditions in your account dashboard. Each condition has its own widget which shows you the likelihood of you developing that condition. This can provide you with the crucial lead time needed to discuss this with your doctor or one of our tele-health clinicians. Early interventions and lifestyle changes can mean you reduce your risks of developing conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, and stroke.

Which risks do NowPatient assess?

Currently, we offer two personalized risk calculations, however over time we will be introducing even more. The risk calculations we currently provide cover the following conditions:

Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus
Conditions linked to high BMI which include coronary heart disease, hypertension (high blood pressure), diabetes, stroke, and certain cancers, like breast cancer and bowel cancer

What is the NowPatient FINDRISC calculator?

Our FINDRISC (Finnish Diabetes Risk Score) widget is an AI-driven prediction tool that identifies patients with a 10-year risk of developing type 2 diabetes mellitus. It requires no laboratory testing and has been validated in multiple populations.

Who developed the FINDRISC score?

The FINDRISC tool was designed by Lindström and Tuomilehto in 2003 and is a widely used tool for predicting the risk of developing type 2 diabetes mellitus. NowPatient’s FINDRISC widget is developed with the permission of Jaana Lindström, one of the developers of the tool.

Why should I need to know my FINDRISC score?

By using FINDRISC we can identify if you are at risk of developing diabetes. We can then provide you with educational interventions such as lifestyle modification advice or you can discuss the impact of your personalised risk with one of our telehealth clinicians. FINDRISC has been shown to reduce the incidence of diabetes.

What parameters do you use to calculate the FINDRISC score?

FINDRISC uses age, BMI, physical activity, vegetable & fruit intake, medical treatment of hypertension, history of hyperglycemia, and family history to determine the risk of developing diabetes.

If your score is not appearing on the widget, then it is likely we are missing information. Please submit the missing information by completing your health profile information so we can calculate your risk score.

How it works

Step 1

You will see a locked widget on your dashboard

Step 2

To populate the widget, navigate to the personal preferences section and fill in any missing information

Step 3

Once you return to the dashboard, you will see the widgets populated with your accurate score

Nowpatient mobile app for managing health risks.

What do the scores mean?

We classify your score into the following bands

Score

Classification

0-7 Points

1% Very Low Risk – ‘You only have a 1% chance of developing diabetes in the next 10 years. You are classed as very low risk and do not need to take any action, however, you can discuss this with your GP at your next appointment.’

7-11 Points

4% Low Risk – ‘You only have a 4% chance of developing diabetes in the next 10 years. You are classed as low risk and you do not need to take any action, however, you can discuss this with your GP at your next appointment.’

12-14 Points

17% Moderate Risk – ‘You have a 17% chance of developing diabetes in the next 10 years. You are classed as being at moderate risk. Making changes to diet and exercising or increasing activity, can reduce your chances of developing diabetes in the future. If you are concerned, you can discuss this with one of our pharmacists or alternatively raise this with your GP, at your next appointment.’

15-20 Points

33% High Risk – ‘You have a 33% chance of developing diabetes in the next 10 years. You are classed as being at high risk. You should consider making changes to your diet and exercising or increasing activity. This can reduce your chances of developing diabetes in the future. If you are concerned, you can discuss this with one of our pharmacists or alternatively raise this with your GP, at your next appointment.’

21-30 Points

50% Very High Risk – ‘You have a 50% chance of developing diabetes in the next 10 years. You are classed as very high risk. You should consider making changes to your diet and exercising or increasing activity. This can reduce your chances of developing diabetes in the future. If you are concerned, you can discuss this with one of our pharmacists or alternatively raise this with your GP, at your next appointment.’

What should I do if my score puts me at risk of developing diabetes?

If the widget puts you ‘at risk’ of developing diabetes, you can book a FREE consultation with one of our telehealth clinicians who will be able to educate you on lifestyle modifications that can help reduce your chances of developing diabetes. Alternatively, you can speak with your doctor.

Body mass index (BMI) is a classification measure that applies to adult men and women. Traditional BMI calculations only use your height and weight to determine if you are at a healthy weight. A healthy weight is a number that is associated with a low risk of weight-related diseases and health issues. The NowPatient BMI widget is advanced and also takes into consideration other significant parameters such as your age, sex, and ethnicity. The results are presented in the BMI widget which is available on your dashboard. The NowPatient BMI widget is available for use in adults over 18 years of age. If you have an eating disorder, the BMI score results do not apply. Please get further advice from your doctor or other health care professional.

How it works

Step 1

You will see a locked widget on the dashboard

Step 2

To populate the widget, navigate to your personal preferences and fill in any missing information

Step 3

Once you return to your dashboard, you will see the widgets populated with your accurate score

What does the score mean?

We classify your score into the following bands:

Score

Classification

Below 18.5

Underweight shown in red/yellow

18.5 to 24.9

Healthy weight shown in green

25 to 29.9

Overweight shown in yellow

30 or over

Obese shown in red

Important Information

Why should I need to know my BMI score?

What parameters do you use to calculate the BMI score?

Why do you use my ethnicity?

Why do you use my waist size?

How do I measure my waist size?

What if my score is not appearing on my dashboard widget?

What should I do if my score puts me at risk of developing long-term conditions?

What are the limitations of the score?

Data Security

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What is NowPatient

Telehealth and Online Pharmacy

NowPatient is a licensed online pharmacy and doctor service that is available around the world. Our service is FREE and packed with valuable features that can benefit your health such as medication reminders, educational blogs, medically approved symptoms checker, UK NHS online pharmacy, private treatment plans, Rx Advantage card, health conditions information, affordable medications options, genetic testing, home test kits, health risks, pollen meter, air quality monitor, weight loss plans, drug savings programs and lots more!

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WHY WE BUILT NOWPATIENT

To improve the lives of everyone by making high-quality care accessible and convenient

We are here to improve lives. Our service gives you access to smart features and resources that can help empower you to take control of your health and improve your health outcomes. All this, in one place, for FREE. We strive to bring a fresh perspective to managing health. NowPatient can be accessed by downloading the App or using your web browser.

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Meet our medical team

We are a passionate group of clinicians and medical writers covering a broad range of specialities with experience operating in health systems in the United Kingdom & United States. Providing excellent care and advice is at the heart of everything we do. You can read more about our medical team by visiting the medical team page or learn more about how we curate content by visiting our editorial process

Your Questions Answered

For your peace of mind, we can answer your questions quickly

We have a comprehensive list of FAQ’s on each feature page. Alternatively, for broader questions around our service just click the button below.

Find your answers

Health Risks

What is your health risk?

How does NowPatient create these insights?

Which risks do NowPatient assess?

Findrisc Widget

What is the NowPatient FINDRISC calculator?

Who developed the FINDRISC score?

Why should I need to know my FINDRISC score?

What parameters do you use to calculate the FINDRISC score?

What if my score is not appearing on my dashboard?

How it works

You will see a locked widget on your dashboard

To populate the widget, navigate to the personal preferences section and fill in any missing information

Once you return to the dashboard, you will see the widgets populated with your accurate score

What do the scores mean?

What should I do if my score puts me at risk of developing diabetes?

BMI Widget

What is the NowPatient BMI widget?

How it works

You will see a locked widget on the dashboard

To populate the widget, navigate to your personal preferences and fill in any missing information

Once you return to your dashboard, you will see the widgets populated with your accurate score

What does the score mean?

Important Information

Why should I need to know my BMI score?

What parameters do you use to calculate the BMI score?

Why do you use my ethnicity?

Why do you use my waist size?

How do I measure my waist size?

What if my score is not appearing on my dashboard widget?

What should I do if my score puts me at risk of developing long-term conditions?

What are the limitations of the score?

Data Security

What is NowPatient

Telehealth and Online Pharmacy

WHY WE BUILT NOWPATIENT

To improve the lives of everyone by making high-quality care accessible and convenient

Download our app today

Can I trust NowPatient

Meet our medical team

Your Questions Answered

For your peace of mind, we can answer your questions quickly