Body mass index, or BMI, is a measurement system that uses weight and height to identify potential weight-related health problems. Among other things, you can use BMI to uncover cases of morbid obesity, an extreme overweight condition linked to a number of serious life-threatening health disorders, including type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure and coronary heart disease.
The Facts
BMI uses a weight and height formula to determine body mass. Generally speaking, the results of a BMI measurement correspond closely to more direct body fat testing methods such as underwater weighing. While a BMI test can identify overweight or morbidly obese conditions, it cannot determine whether you have specific health problems related to obesity.
Calculating BMI
The formula for BMI: your weight in pounds divided by your height in inches squared multiplied by 703. BMI results are given as weight ranges. If you have a BMI of 18.5 or less, your results fall in the underweight range. If you have a BMI between 18.5 and 24.9, your results fall in the normal weight range. If you have a BMI between 25.0 and 29.9, your results fall in the overweight range. If you have a BMI between 30.0 and 39.9, your results fall in the obese range. If you have a BMI of 40.0 or greater, your results fall in the morbidly obese range. You also qualify as morbidly obese if you have a BMI between 35 and 40 combined with high blood pressure or diabetes, according to Baylor College of Medicine.
Significance
If you have a BMI in excess of 35, you will typically have health care expenses roughly 44 percent higher than those for individuals with a BMI between 20 and 24, the Baylor College of Medicine reports. In addition to the ailments listed above, morbid obesity increases your risks for fatty deposits in your bloodstream, sleep apnea, joint degeneration and premature death. Decreasing your weight below the morbid obesity range can help reverse or ease the effects of these conditions.
Considerations
Your degree of physical fitness has some effect on your BMI results, the CDC notes. For instance, athletes or others with developed musculature may score higher on a BMI without having a high degree of body fat. Typically, though, if your BMI falls in the obese range or higher, increased body fat plays a major role in your results.
Additional Considerations
BMI cannot give you a complete picture of your obesity-related risks, according to the CDC. The National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute recommends that you also measure your waistline to estimate your amount of abdominal fat, in addition to assessing other known risk factors such as physical inactivity, high blood pressure, blood sugar content, triglycerides and cholesterol.
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