How To Calculate Your Body Mass Index

February 27, 2008

Photo by Danlamouette
bmi-body-mass-index.jpgToo fat or too thin, you may be unhealthy.

Calculating your BMI can give you a general idea as to whether you are underweight, at a healthy weight, or obese.  Body mass index (BMI) is a standard measurement that represents the percentage of body fat for adult men and women.  It can help you determine if you are at an increased risk for health problems, such as diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and certain cancers including breast cancer.  Starting in Europe more than 150 years ago, the BMI calculation became popular in the U.S. in the 1980’s. 

But a BMI calculation is nothing more than an estimate as it can only measure so much.  For instance, BMI may overestimate body fat in athletes and other people with muscular builds, and it may underestimate body fat in older people and those who have lost muscle mass.  Still, it is a good tool to help determine if you fall above or below the safety line. 

Here’s how to calculate your BMI.

There are several websites that will provide a calculation for you, but as first mentioned over at the Iowa Avenue blog, you can do a quick calculation with your own calculator . . .  take 703 times your weight, divide by your height in inches, and divide again by your height in inches (703 x weight / height twice). 

Here are what the results mean.

  • If your BMI is 14.9 or less, you are extremely underweight. 
  • If your BMI falls between 15-18, you are mildly underweight.
  • A BMI 18.5-24.9 means you are at a weight in good proportion to your height.
  • A BMI of 25-29.9 means you are overweight. 
  • A BMI of 30-39.9 indicates you are obese.
  • And a BMI of 40 or more indicates you are morbidly obese.

Of the U.S. population, only 33.5 percent of us have a good BMI in proportion to their height, 34 percent are overweight, and 30 percent fall under the morbidly obese category.   If you find yourself in the overweight category and are wanting to lose weight, keep in mind that in order to lose one pound per week, you need to eliminate 500 calories from your day.  You can do that by cutting back on the calories you consume, or by exercising, or a combination of both.   

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Posted by Julie Alexander | Filed Under Blog, Weight Loss, Wellness 

Comments

8 Responses to “How To Calculate Your Body Mass Index”

  1. healthranker.com on February 27th, 2008 3:22 am

    How To Calculate Your Body Mass Index : Health & Wellness Post…

    Calculate your BMI to determine if you are at an increased risk for health problems….

  2. Weight Loss - Losing weight has never been so easy » How To Calculate Your Body Mass Index on February 27th, 2008 4:31 am

    […] To Calculate Your Body Mass Index Drowning Me Slowly wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerpt Photo by Danlamouette Too fat or too […]

  3. NoMoreFatSummers on March 1st, 2008 8:23 am

    You are so right about the BMI overestimating body fat.
    I’m @ 47.4 , but no one would call me morbidly obese,lol.

  4. Julie Alexander on March 1st, 2008 10:43 am

    NoMoreFatSummers,

    I just finished reading about your BMI on your blog. Thanks for sharing the good info.

  5. C. J. on March 26th, 2008 2:45 am

    So, does that mean, since i’m 12 and have a BMI of 14.8, am I extremely underweight?

  6. Julie Alexander on March 26th, 2008 3:35 am

    C.J,

    Not at all. BMI calculation is only for adult men and women as stated in the first paragraph. I’m sure glad you took enough interest to read on the topic though. Knowing about BMI before reaching adulthood sure would be beneficial.

  7. abouthealthy.com on April 30th, 2008 2:32 pm

    How To Calculate Your Body Mass Index : Health & Wellness Post…

    Calculating your BMI can give you a general idea as to whether you are underweight, at a healthy weight, or obese. Body mass index (BMI) is a standard measurement that represents the percentage of body fat for adult men and women….

  8. health social on April 30th, 2008 2:34 pm

    [Calculating your BMI can give you a general idea as to whether you are underweight, at a healthy weight, or obese. Body mass index (BMI) is a standa…….]

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