How to calculate it and what it really means for your health
If you’ve ever had a standard checkup with your doctor or other health care provider, chances are your BMI was calculated. This is a simple formula that uses your height and weight to figure out if you’re carrying too much fat.
It’s been a standard way of assessing a person’s health (with tweaks along the way) since the early 20th century, but while it gives a good grasp of that person’s condition, it’s such a simple test that it doesn’t paint the full picture is and should be considered together with other considerations.
In order to get the most accurate picture of how healthy a person is, it is important to look at BMI Not consider. Although BMI is a good place to start, taking into account a person’s age, gender, race, and build will help get a better understanding of that person’s situation and determine if they need to make lifestyle changes. There are others Body fat measurement methods (opens in new tab) that could be more accurate – but these are usually based on more complicated calculations.
Contributors: Dr. Juliet McGrattan
UK-based Dr. Juliet McGrattan has been a practicing physician for 16 years and is now an award-winning author and running coach. In addition to her years as a GP, she was also the Northwest’s premier Physical Activity Clinical Master for Public Health England (opens in new tab).
What exactly is BMI?
BMI stands for Body Mass Index and is commonly used to determine whether a person is at risk of being obese or underweight. BMI measurements correlate with many health problems associated with obesity, making them a valid starting point for looking at a person’s health status. It’s also easy to understand as it’s based on a numeric scale.
Each entry on the scale refers to the number of kilograms per square meter (so a BMI of 25 would be 25kg/m²).
According to that CDC (opens in new tab)A BMI of less than 18.4 on the scale is considered underweight. For most people, a BMI between 18.5 and 24.9 is considered normal or acceptable, while those between 25 and 29.9 are considered “overweight.” “Obese” is someone with a BMI of 30 or more.
However, because a person’s BMI does not focus exclusively on fat and also includes muscle and other tissues, it is not a complete assessment on its own.
| BMI | weight status |
|---|---|
| Under 18.5 | underweight |
| 18.5 – 24.9 | normal |
| 25.0 – 29.9 | overweight |
| 30.0 and higher | overweight |
How do I calculate my own BMI?
To find your BMI, you need to know the following:
- How much do you weigh
- How tall are you
This can be in metric or imperial measurements. There is a formula for both.
For metric calculations, simply calculate your height in square centimeters and then use that number to divide your weight in kilograms (weight ÷ height²).
For Imperial, calculate your height (in inches) and use the number to divide your weight in pounds (weight (lbs) ÷ height (in)²). Multiply by 703 this time too.
To find your BMI easily, you can use one of the many Online calculator availablewhere you enter your weight and height and it calculates it for you.
What is BMI used for?
Healthcare professionals use BMI to assess their patients’ risk factors for certain weight-related health conditions.
“Measuring your BMI can help you and your nurse or doctor determine if you’re at a healthy weight,” says Dr. Juliet McGrattan, former family doctor and author of Sorted: The Active Women’s Health Guide (opens in new tab). “There are health risks associated with both being overweight and being underweight.”
However, determining your BMI is not only useful on a personal level. “BMI can be used at an individual level to help you decide whether you need to gain or lose weight, but it’s also used at a broader level where it reflects the health of the population,” adds Dr. Added McGrattan.
So, knowing a population’s average BMI, coupled with other health statistics, can give health professionals more information on how to target communities that may need additional help with their lifestyle and health options.
Should I be concerned about high or low BMI?
If you’ve entered your data into a calculator and the results aren’t within “healthy” limits, don’t panic.
“It is important to realize that BMI is only a guide and can be misleading for some people. For example, if you’re very muscular, your BMI may indicate you’re overweight when you’re actually very healthy,” says Dr. McGrattan.
But it’s always worth checking if you’re not sure, as there are risks when you’re on either side of the “unhealthy” parameters:
“If your BMI is outside of the healthy range, you should discuss this with your doctor,” adds Dr. Added McGrattan. “A very low BMI could put you at increased risk for conditions like osteoporosis, where the bones are thin and break easily.
“There are also many known health risks associated with being overweight or obese, such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease and many types of cancer. Your doctor can help you figure out what your BMI score means to you personally and if you need to take steps to correct it.”
Is BMI an accurate measure of my health?
BMI is a good place to start, but some researchers would argue that BMI is not a good measure of a healthy weight. As McGrattan explains, “Your BMI doesn’t tell the whole story. Someone with a BMI in the normal range can be very unhealthy if they don’t exercise regularly, smoke, or drink excessive amounts of alcohol.
“Similarly, someone with a high BMI can be fitter and healthier than someone with a low BMI. It’s all a matter of their lifestyle and habits. BMI must always be interpreted along with other factors such as a person’s lifestyle, ethnicity, and other medical conditions.”
As previously mentioned, the main disadvantage of BMI is that it doesn’t measure fat alone, nor does it measure where that fat is distributed in the body. Therefore, it is important to look at a BMI reading in conjunction with other tests, such as a waist measurement, to quickly determine if a person is healthy or needs further help.
“Also remember that good overall health includes both physical and mental health, and BMI is not a measure of your mental health,” says Dr. McGrattan.
While BMI is still a good way to get a quick idea of a person’s health, it is not a one-size-fits-all solution and should be viewed alongside other considerations such as lifestyle, body type, gender, age, ethnicity and overall health of the individual .
If you are concerned about your health related to your BMI, ask your doctor or nurse for advice.
This article is not intended to provide medical advice and readers should consult their physician or healthcare professional before adopting any diet or treatment.
How to calculate it and what it really means for your health Source link How to calculate it and what it really means for your health
