There are many ways to determine if you’re at a healthy weight and BMI (Body Mass Index) calculation is one of the easiest, simplest and most frequently used methods for the same. Determining your BMI is not difficult at all and you can do it easily even within the comfort of your home. In its simplest meanings, BMI compares a person’s weight to their height.
Everyone needs to be able to calculate his/her BMI (Body Mass Index) in order to know when to seek medical advice. It can be calculated using weight in kg and height in meters or weight in pounds and height in inches.
The easiest way to find out your BMI is to use a BMI table for adults. There is also a handy BMI calculator at the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute's website. As stated before, to find your BMI, you need to know your height and your weight.
The formula is: BMI = Weight (kg)/ {Height}2 (m)
You can also take your weight in pounds, divide that number by your height in inches squared, and multiply the result by 703 to get your BMI.
That is BMI= [Weight (Ibs)/{Height}(inches)] *730
If your BMI is 25-29.9, you are in the "overweight" category and not yet obese but being at the upper limit of normal is a sign you are slowly becoming obese. There are three classes of obesity:
- Class I obesity — BMI of 30-34.9
- Class II obesity— of 35-39.9
- Class III obesity— of 40 and higher
Other classifications are Mild, Morbid and Malignant. Whatever classification you use, a BMI of 30 and above is unhealthy and that increases your weight related health risk.
To calculate your own BMI while sitting within the comfort of your home, all you need is:
A simple calculator
Your already known readings for your own “height” and “weight”
- Enter your body weight in Kilograms
- Press the ÷ symbol
- Enter your body height in meters
- Again press the ÷ symbol
- Again enter your body height in meters
- Press the “=” symbol
A BMI of 25 to 29.9 indicates a person is overweight.
Obesity therefore predisposes you to Heart diseases, stroke, diabetes, cancer of the gallbladder; breast, uterus, cervix, and ovaries (for women) and cancer of the colon; rectum, and prostate (for men). Gallstones, osteoarthritis, gout, apnea, high blood cholesterol, high blood pressure, pregnancy related problems, irregular menstrual cycles and infertility, psychological and social effects etc. To avoid these arrays of health risks, we must learn to eat just the amount of food the body needs. Eating too much and a sedentary lifestyle is a major culprit causing obesity.
It is important to remember that while BMI does not show the difference between excess fat and muscle, it is closely associated with measures of body fat. It also predicts the development of health problems related to excess weight. For these reasons, BMI is widely used by health care providers.