How to Calculate BMI
Don’t Worry if You Do Not Know How to Calculate BMI. What Is BMI?Body Mass Index (BMI) is a standardized way to measure the weight risk of an individual. Understanding how to calculate BMI is not as important as knowing why it is used to determine healthy weight status.BMI gives us our level of fatness for our body. The BMI calculation is more exact than using body weight alone. The ordinary bathroom scale was used to determine healthy weight for many years. Once a person knew their weight they could go to a standardized “normal” body weight chart for their size (with 2 inch heels) and identify their healthy weight. Using this weight range, a dieter could determine how much weight was needed to lose to achieve a healthy weight. The problem with using a scale to measure weight is that each person’s body is different. The scale does not take into account a person’s height, which is important when someone decides to diet. For example, a weight of 175 pounds may be healthy for a 6’3” male athlete and unhealthy for a 5 foot tall woman. Calculating BMIThe BMI formula depends on two factors, weight and height. Calculating BMI involves multiplying your weight in pounds by 703. Then divide this number by your height in inches, squared. This will give you your BMI result in kilograms per meter squared.Here is an example when I weighed 280 pounds in 2004 at 5 feet 6 inches. 280 x 703 = 196840 Knowing that my BMI was 45, I could use a BMI table, BMI graph, BMI chart or free BMI calculator to determine how unhealthy my weight was. BMI ChartThis BMI table shows that I was very unhealthy. In fact, I was classified as extremely obese. Any unhealthy weight places us at risk of developing diseases such as type 2 diabetes, heart problems and certain cancers. Your risk increases with a higher BMI calculation. With a BMI of 45, my health risks were very high and I felt it! Lack of energy and experiencing GERD and Gastritis symptoms led to some miserable days and reduced my quality of life.
Kids BMIHow to calculate BMI for kids is different from an adult and is used as a guide to determine the healthy weight status of a child. The reason a kid's BMI is different is because children's bodies are constantly changing through their growth and development until they reach maturity. A child’s BMI can be different from month to month depending on growth spurts. Your child’s doctor will use a kid’s BMI calculator as part of an overall assessment to determine healthy weight for your child.Learning to become obese free and losing over 140 pounds was the best thing I did for myself in 2004. Following a healthy eating plan renewed my health. Following the same plan to maintain my weight loss has helped me change my life! Return from How to Calculate BMI page to
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