“About BMI: What Is BMI?”BMI is a used to determine if a person’s body weight is appropriate for their height. It cannot directly measure body fat, but BMI is a reasonable indicator of body fat for most adults.
What is BMI?
The Body Mass Index, BMI is simply the result of an individual’s weight in kilograms divided by the square of his or her height in meters(g/m2). It’s a tool used by medical professionals around the world to screen quickly and identify possible weight-related health problems. It’s easy: the formula is just a little bit of math with a choice of using metric or imperial units.
How to Calculate BMI
For the metric system the BMI formula is equal to:
BMI = weight (kg)/height² (m²)
For those in the UK who use pounds and inches, the formula for them is:
BMI = weight (lb) / height² (in²) × 703 Formula Notes: BMI is a screening tool used to gauge a person’s excess body weight.
So to work it out – if you weigh 70 kilograms and you are 1.75 meters tall:
BMI = 70 / (1.75 \times 1.75) = 22.86
BMI Categories
The body mass index (BMI) is categorized as follows according to the World Health Organization (WHO):
– Below 18.5: Underweight
– 18.5 – 24.9: Normal weight
– 25 – 29.9: Overweight
– 30 – 34.9: Obesity Class 1
– 35 – 39.9: Obesity Class 2
– 40 and above: Obesity Class 3 (Extreme)
Limitations of BMI
While BMI is practical as a screening measure, it does have its deficiencies. It clearly does not discriminate fat tissue from muscle tissue. Thus, individuals with a high BMI may not be obese in terms of body fat. It does not take into consideration fat distribution, which can be relevant in predicting health risks.
Conclusion
BMI is a useful measure for a quick assessment of body weight and possible risk of health problems. But, there is no way to measure overall heath and BMI alone is not a sufficient gauge for health. Seeing a doctor for more detailed tests such as body fat percentage, diet and exercise would also be a good idea to get a full picture of health.
