BMI (Body Mass Index): Do You Have A Healthy Weight?

The body mass index, or BMI, is a useful tool for determining if someone is overweight or obese. You're plainly overweight if you weigh too much. Obesity, on the other hand, is defined as having a high percentage of body fat. Your doctor or another health expert will define your weight as healthy, overweight, or obese based on your BMI.

The BMI "describes body weight relative to height and is connected with total body fat content in most individuals," according to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI). Almost every time, This implies that when defining you as healthy, overweight, or obese, the BMI will appropriately represent your weight and proportion of body fat as a function of your height and weight.

Although you'll certainly need a calculator to save time, calculating your approximate body mass index is quite simple. Multiply your weight in pounds by 703 to find your BMI. Then double that number by your height in inches. Then double that number by your height in inches one more.

Consider the following scenario: you weigh 180 pounds and stand 5 feet 10 inches tall.

To get 126,540, multiply 180 by 703. Divide this number by 70 (70 inches equals 5′ 10′′) to obtain 1807.7. Subtract 1807.7 from 70 once more. Your BMI, or body mass index, is estimated to be 25.8. If you don't have a calculator, you may use the free interactive BMI calculator at www.nhlbisupport.com/bmi/bmicalc.htm to get the same answer.

If this sounds like you, you might be astonished to hear that you're just a smidgeon heavier than your doctor prefers. A BMI of 18.5 to 25 is regarded as normal, 25 to 30 is considered overweight, and 30 or above is considered obese.

According to the NHLBI, the higher a person's BMI, the higher their chance of developing health problems. Excess body fat is a well-known health issue, in addition to causing your BMI to soar. Health concerns such as Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol are substantially more likely in men and women with waistlines of greater than 40 and 35 inches, respectively.

Every rule of thumb has an exception, and this one is no exception. Bodybuilders, for example, frequently have a BMI of more than 25, and in some cases, more than 30. The higher BMI in this scenario, on the other hand, reflects the fact that bodybuilders have greater muscle mass and less fat.

Finally, if you're overweight or obese, there's just one definite approach to decrease your BMI: eat less and exercise more. Your body will burn more calories than it consumes, and your BMI will decrease over time.