body mass index

Body mass index

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BODY MASS INDEX

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What is this often mentioned body mass Index? It's the ratio of your weight to your height and is taken by the medical profession as a good indication of whether you are underweight, just right, overweight, or obese. There are more sophisticated ways of measuring these things - like underwater weighing, for example - but they are not easy for the lay person to carry out. And you don't need to get that technical anyway. If you are interested in measuring your own BMI the method is to divide your weight by the square of your height as in the formula BMI=weight(kg)/height(metres²).

Want to check it out? Grab your tape measure, scales and calculator and do this:

(a) weigh yourself (in kilograms), say for example it's 72kg, and write it down on a piece of paper;

(b) Measure your height (in metres), write it down, and then multiply this number by itself; (e.g. if your height is 1.7 metres then multiply this figure by itself and you get 2.89);

(c) divide the number you got in (a) by the number you got in (b) and there it is, your own BMI. In the above example it's 72 divided by 2.89 which comes to 24.9 which is OK.

What does this m

ean? Well, a BMI of between 18.5 and 25 is considered OK. If you're between 25 and 29.99 you're considered overweight and a figure of 30 or more means you are classed as obese. Naturally, if you are obese you don't really need a mathematical formula to tell you and you should be seeking medical advice. The lifestyle tips on this site will go some way to providing a natural cure for obesity but there are sometimes underlying medical reasons for being seriously overweight.
If you are less than obese but still higher than 25 it doesn't necessarily mean you are overweight, you might be one of natures 'rounder' people and as such you're fine as you are. If you are below a figure of 18.5 (and you haven't been starving yourself) then lucky you - weight isn't one of your concerns. Eating a healthier diet may even increase your weight a little.
The thing to bear in mind with the BMI is that its only for a ball park idea and you shouldn't be too rigidly bound by it's findings. You are unique and can't be classified mathematically. See why we are all different