Keeping your weight at a healthy level is definitely important. It can often make the difference between good health and bad health. Although you may not see effects right away, those extra pounds can cause future problems. Not sure where your target weight should be or if you are on track? Well, checking your Body Mass Index (BMI) is one way to see how you are doing. You may have heard about the body mass index but you may not be sure what it is or how to use it.
What is BMI?
So, what exactly is BMI? You’ve probably heard this term thrown around before. Well, BMI stands for body mass index and it is actually a measurement using statistics that takes your height and weight and compares it. It doesn’t really measure the body fat you have, but it helps you figure out a healthy weight for your body based on your height. It is widely used by doctors to identify people who are dealing with weight difficulties, including those who are underweight, people over weight, and those who are obese. It was actually developed by Adolphe Quetelet back in the mid 1800s.
How to Calculate It
Wondering how you actually calculate your own BMI? Well, here are the steps to calculating this correctly.
- First take your height, done in inches, and square it. This means multiple the inches by itself. Such as 66 inches x 66 inches. This equals 4356.
- Then take your weight, measured in pounds, and divide it by the number you get in step 1. For example, if you weight 150 pounds, this would be 150/4356, which equals 0.0344.
- Then take this number and multiply it by 703. For example, 0.0344 x 703 equals 24.2. This number that you get is the BMI. So, your body mass index if you are 5 ft 6 inches and 150 pounds is 24.
What Your BMI Means
So, now that you can calculate your body mass index, what does it mean and what is normal, what is underweight, and what is overweight? Well here is a simple scale that can help you out.
- For a BMI of less than 18, you are considered to be underweight.
- Between 18 and 18.5 is considered to be thin for a BMI.
- A health BMI showing normal weight can be between 18.6 and 24.9.
- If your BMI falls in between 25 to 29.9 then this is a sign you are overweight.
- Those with an index over 30 are considered to be obese.
Of course body mass index is not the only guide to healthy weight. Bone structure and other factors can be considered in weight. If you do your body mass index and find it shows you to be underweight, overweight, or obese, it may be a good idea to consult with your physician for further information and help.
Andrew Carnegie
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