What’s my BMI?
You’ve probably heard numerous people and magazines talk about BMI as a measure of a person’s health. Contrary to popular belief, weight isn’t the only factor that determines a person’s health but is only an aspect of it. So, what does BMI actual mean, and why is it important? Most importantly, how do you calculate it? While most people know that BMI means Body Mass Index, it’s essential to know everything you need to know about it, especially if you plan to get healthy in the long run.
What is the meaning of BMI?
BMI is the standard measure to calculate body weight, with a person’s BMI being used to categorize him/her as being normal, overweight, or obese. It is essentially used as a body screening tool, where a person’s body weight is divided by the square of height in meters. The basic idea behind BMI is that taller people have more tissue than shorter people, and hence cannot weigh the same as them, according to the age group they fall into. Hence, calculating BMI actually helps people discover if they are indeed healthy, or at risk for certain diseases, when their normal body weight may not indicate any issue.
How do you calculate BMI? What are the standard BMI ranges?
The Body-Mass ratio of a person can be calculated using the formula:
[Weight(lb) / height (in)2] X 703
The average BMI range is:
BMI Status –
| Below 18.5 | Underweight |
| 18.5-24.9 | Healthy |
| 25.0-29.9 | Overweight |
| 30.0+ | Obese |
What does BMI indicate?
Your BMI can indicate various issues, based on the findings:
- Low BMI – Low BMI can indicate poor diet or malnutrition, as well as certain effects that could be a result of a poor reaction to medicines.
- Healthy BMI – A healthy BMI means you’re healthy and are getting enough nutrition.
- Higher BMI – Falling over the healthy weight BMI puts you at risk for various diseases such as diabetes and heart disease. You should ideally consult a doctor to discuss methods of weight-loss.
Why is BMI important?
BMI is considered an important measure of health, due to a variety of reasons.
- Research shows that people with high BMI have a higher risk of health conditions.
- BMI is more accurate than solely weight, as it takes into consideration the height of a person as well.
- It can reveal irregular weight gain that may not be otherwise noticeable.
- Can also lead to further investigation into a diet, family history, lifestyle, and more.
- It is expensive and easy to perform, readily available at numerous healthcare centers.
BMI is an incredibly important aspect of determining the health of an individual. It can help tackle issues before they surface, and help in gaining an understanding of health conditions that certain people may be at risk for. Knowing the BMI meaning and usage can help you gauge the importance of regularly getting BMI calculated, in order to keep diseases at bay and preventing issues from arising in the future. In case you wish to know your BMI or reduce weight in order to keep health issues at bay, Dr. Mohit Bhandari, the leading Bariatric Surgeon in Mumbai, is your best option. With years of experience in the industry and the finest skill to perform cutting-edge procedures, he has seen incredible success in helping patients overcome weight issues.