What Is The Body Mass Index (BMI)?

What Is The Body Mass Index (BMI)?

Have you ever heard of the Body Max Index or BMI? You may have heard the term(s) when people are talking about fitness. The Body Mass Index measures your body size. It basically combines your weight with your height. The measurement will give you an idea whether you are underweight, overweight, or obese. The Body Mass Index is defined as body weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared, according to the CDC. The Body Mass Index does not measure body fat; however, it correlates with total body fat. In other words, if your doctor wants to determine whether your high Body Mass Index poses a risk to your health, he or she will have to perform further assessments.

What Is The Right Body Mass Index

The Body Mass Index is calculated the same way for both adults and children; however, children’s and teen’s Body Mass Indexes are age and gender specific, because the amount of body fat changes with age and the amount of body fat differs between girls and boys. A Body Mass Index of less than 18.5 means that a person is underweight. A Body Mass Index of between 18.5 and 24.9 is ideal. A Body Mass Indexof between 25 and 29.9 is overweight,  according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH). While calculating your Body Mass Index, make sure you have your exact weight and size. The CDC says a BMI of 30 or greater has increased in the U.S. since the 1970s. However, recently this trend has leveled off, except for older women. If you are obese, your risk for many diseases and health conditions increases. Some of those conditions include: high blood pressure, Type 2 diabetes, stroke, gallbladder disease, as well as body pain and difficulty with physical functioning. If you want to calculate your BMI visit: https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/educational/lose_wt/BMI/bmicalc.htm