If you are trying to lose weight or get into shape one of the terms you have probably heard of is the Body Mass Index (BMI for short). Body mass index is a way to measure your specific body weight to determine whether your weight falls into a healthy range. Two measurements that are used to calculate your BMI are your height and present weight.
BMI Categories
- A person is underweight if their BMI is less than 18.5
- A person is considered normal weight if their BMI falls into the range of 18.5 to 24.9
- A person is considered overweight if their BMI is in a range of 25 to 29.9
- For a person with a BMI that is 30 or over, you are considered obese
Body mass index is one of the best ways to determine how healthy your present weight is and what your specific weight should be. It should be noted that if you are underweight, overweight or obese you may be more prone to certain health conditions. For instance, for those individuals that have a BMI of 30 or more, you may be more prone to diabetes, heart disease and hypertension. For those that are underweight with a BMI less than 18.5 you may not be receiving enough vitamins, minerals and nutrients for your body to function properly.
How to Calculate Your Body Mass Index
Generally speaking, it is very easy to calculate your body mass index. Many websites have calculators where you input your height and weight (in addition, you might be asked for your gender and age) and click submit. Your body mass index will be immediately shown. If you would like to calculate your body mass index on your own, the formula is quite simple. However it should be noted that there are two formulas that one can use metric (kilograms and meters) and standard (feet, inches and pounds).
Standard Calculation for BMI
Take your weight in pounds and multiply it by 703. Then take this total and divide it by your height in inches squared. The resulting number will be your BMI
Metric Calculation for BMI
Divide your weight in kilograms by your height in meters squared. The resulting number will be your BMI.
