Body mass index, BMI, helps to identify if you're carrying a healthy weight for your height, explains the National Institutes of Health. It's numeric value clarifying whether you're underweight, normal weight, overweight or obese for your height. As BMI increases, it's usually a sign of excess body fat. This coupled with excess body weight can lead to weight-related health problems.
Body Mass Index
Regardless of your age or gender, body mass index is calculated in the exact same way. It takes your height in inches and weight in pounds to arrive at a numeric value. One of two equations can be used: (weight x 703) / (height x height) or [weight / (height x height)] x 703. Either of these formulas provide BMI value.
Weight Status
This numeric value then places you into one of four weight statuses, such as underweight, normal weight, overweight and obese. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, CDC, identifies a BMI of less than 18.5 as underweight. Normal weight is anywhere between 18.5 and 24.9 while overweight is 25.0 to 29.9. Obesity is considered 30 and above. Sometimes, there's a fifth weight status known as morbidly obese, which has a numeric value of 40 or more.
Significance
The significance of higher BMI values is an increased risk of serious health problems. As your body mass index reaches around 30, the Mayo Clinic cautions that you're more likely to suffer from heart disease, high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, type 2 diabetes, sleep apnea, fatty liver disease, osteoarthritis and even cancer of the prostate, cervix, ovaries, colon, rectum, uterus or breast. Heart disease, high blood pressure and high blood cholesterol increase your risk of heart failure, heart attack and stroke.
Treatment
When you have higher BMI values, doctors often recommend making changes in your lifestyle to lose weight, and thereby lower your body mass index. Two of the most beneficial are diet and exercise. By reducing your caloric intake while increasing your physical activity, you create what's known as a caloric deficit. A caloric deficit of 3,500 calories results in a pound of weight loss, estimates the National Institutes of Health.
Considerations
To ensure the likelihood of keeping the weight off, consider enlisting the help of a medical professional. Doctors, dietitians and personal trainers can all help to establish dietary changes as well as exercise programs that best match your weight, health and level of fitness. If you're carrying an excessive amount of weight, it may also be necessary to take part in behavioral therapy to identify and manage factors that have contributed to your weight gain.
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