How to calculate your body mass index?
One can calculate body mass index to know if their weight is ideal. In fact,one of the ways of maintaining good health is to maintain an ideal weight. It is important to note,however, that the ideal body weight is only for a general reference. In fact,your ideal weight would depend to an extent on your genes and also on your body structure. Hence, Body Mass Index (BMI) can be used to as a measure ones fitness level and the health threats they can be prone to.
What is Body Mass Index (BMI)?
Body mass index or BMI is a number. This number is calculated by dividing the weight of a person in kilograms by height in square meters. Body mass index was invented by the Belgian polymath Adolphe Quetelet between 1830 and 1850 during the course of developing 'social physics'. BMI is used to determine whether an individual, male or female, falls into a broad band considered to be healthy weight, or is outside the parameters and, if so, to what extent. So the ideal body weight range are based on BMI, taking into account whether it is of male or female. BMI is also used by scientist and researchers to determine the health implications of being over or under weight use BMI.
How To Calculate Body Mass Index
It is not difficult to calculate body mass index . In fact, to know your body fat percentage there is a simple formula you can use to easily come up with the figure.
In SI units, body mass index can be calculated by dividing the weight in kg by square of height in meters. In US units, the weight in pound has to be divided by square of height in inches and to obtain the body mass index, the result has to be multiplied by 703.
In case where a person has a BMI calculation of below 20 then the individual is considered to be underweight. Whereas individuals who have a body mass index between 20 and 25 lie in the normal weight category and as for people with body mass index of 25 or above are considered overweight. Those with body mass index over 30 are considered to be obese. However, it is worth noting that these ranges of body mass index values are valid only as statistical categories when applied to adults in general and do not predict health in any way. Opinions differ on the threshold for being underweight in females, as anything from 18.5 to 20 is being the lowest weight, however the most frequently baseline used is 19. When the body mass index nears 15 it is usually considered as an indicator for starvation and the health risks involved are evaluated.
According to a survey by the U.S. National Health and Nutrition Examination of 1994 indicated that 49% of women and 59% of American men had BMI over 25. 4% of the women and 2% of the men were in the category of extreme obesity having a BMI of 40 or more.
The body mass index figures were further revised in 2005 with an emphasis on health risks instead of weight. Adults whose BMI is between 18.5 and 22.9 have a low risk of developing heart disease and other health problems such as diabetes. Those with a body mass index between 23 and 27.4 are at moderate risk and those with a bmi of 27.5 and above are at high risk of heart disease and other health problems.
The best way to calculate body mass index is to have the doctor find it for you. There are body mass calculator that can help you calculate body mass index but still the advice of a health care specialist is very important . However you can also use the calculators available on net to determine your body mass index,or even consult chart,graph and table but bear in mind that they are for the average adult between the ages of 20 and 65 only. These BMI calculators should not be used for pregnant women or children as these calculators are not for everyone and are not designed to provide medical advice, if one has any concern about health or weight it is wise to consult a doctor or a health care provider.
There is no doubt that weight is an important factor that not only determines your health but is also a part of your persona. If you are overweight , then do not go on crash diets. Exercise regularly and eat healthy. This is the mantra for living a healthy and wealthy life.
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