What is Body Mass Index (BMI)?
Body mass index (BMI) is a standard metric used to assess whether your body weight is in a healthy or unhealthy weight group.
The body mass index (BMI) calculator calculates the ratio of your weight to your height, calculated by dividing your weight in kilograms by your height in meters squared.
For example, you want to find out if you are normal or obese. Your weight 80 kilograms and are 1.75 m (175 centimeters) tall.
First, multiply your height in the square: 1.75 x 1.75 = 3.06. Next, divide your weight lift by the square of your height: 80/3.06 = 26.1.
Finally, compare your BMI (26.1) with the weight categories listed below:
- Under 20 = Underweight
- 20 – 25 = normal weight
- 25 – 29.9 = Excess body weight (obesity tendency)
- 30 and over = obesity
That way, your BMI or body mass index number indicates that you are overweight.
“Maintaining a healthy weight will keep you from many kinds of diseases.”
Body Mass Index (BMI) Calculator to Easily Calculate Body Mass Index
To make it easier for you to calculate what your body mass index is, and whether your weight is ideal, underweight, or overweight, you can easily use the BMI Calculator.
Body Mass Index Cannot Be Used as a Measure of Ideal Body Weight
BMI is an easy-to-calculate method that can provide basic information about your overall weight problem.
This number can serve as a warning sign of danger and protect a person from dying from obesity-related chronic diseases.
However, to define a healthy weight, one type of definitive measurement cannot be applied to all.
BMI also does not take into account the amount and distribution of body fat, which are important for measuring a person’s risk for various chronic diseases. The reason is, thin people may still have a distended stomach or diabetes.
In some cases, tall stature, such as bodybuilders (who can look like they are overweight thanks to their muscle mass), are not necessarily a bad thing. Many people who have a weight above “normal” are declared healthy.
In addition, a low BMI may be caused by certain diseases or old age. BMI also fails to take into account:
- Ethnic and gender differences (women tend to have more fat mass than men),
- Age,
- Physical activity level,
- Body composition (how much is the ratio of muscle to body fat), and
- Waist size (above-average waist circumference is another indicator of obesity and associated disease risk).
For example, as a woman, even if your body mass index falls into the normal category, you can still have a high percentage of body fat.
BMI does not fully represent a comprehensive diagnosis of a person’s health and disease risk. Consult further with your doctor about your risks and concerns regarding health conditions related to your weight.
If You Already Know What Your Body Mass Index Is, What Can You Do?
Don’t just stick to your BMI and the numbers on your scale. Also pay attention to muscle mass and waist circumference to provide a more comprehensive summary of your actual general health.
Everyone’s body is different so BMI is not perfect for universal calculations. BMI will be useful as a point of reference when used in conjunction with other monitoring tools.
Take advantage of the calculation results from the Body Mass Index (BMI) calculator and your weighing scale, then dig deeper with your doctor to determine if you are on the right path to achieving your ideal weight.
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