One way that doctors can determine your overall body fat ratio and assess your risk for certain diseases is by calculating your Body Mass Index, or BMI. The BMI system consists of four categories--underweight, normal, overweight and obese. If your BMI falls into the classification of obesity, you should understand what that might mean for your health.
History
In the late 1800s, a Belgian anthropologist named Adolphe Quetelet proposed a system to classify the measurement of the human body based on a formula involving an individual's height and weight. This system was originally called the Quetelet Index but is known today as the BMI system.
Formula
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill explains that you can determine your BMI by dividing your weight in kilograms by your height in meters squared. The formula for this equation is W/H². Alternatively, you can calculate your BMI using your height in inches and your weight in pounds. If you use the second method, you must also multiply your result by 703.07. The formula for this calculation is 703.07xW/H².
Classification
If the number that you end up with from your calculations is greater than or equal to 30, your BMI falls into the category of "obesity." The National Institutes of Health, or NIH, explains that there are three categories of obesity. If your BMI is 30 to 34.99, you are in Class I. A BMI of 35 to 39.99 is obesity Class II, and a BMI of 40 or higher falls into obesity Class III, or "Extreme Obesity."
Significance
The NIH warns that if you have a BMI that falls within the "obese" range, you are at greater risk of developing type-2 diabetes or heart conditions than a person with a BMI in the "normal" range. The higher your BMI is, the greater your risk of developing these conditions.
If you have a family history of premature heart disease, or if you personally have a history of high blood pressure, cholesterol problems or high blood sugar, your risk of developing obesity-related health conditions rises even more. Other risk factors include smoking and not participating in physical activity on a regular basis.
Considerations
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or CDC, advises that calculating BMI is a screening tool only, particularly for children and teenagers. If your BMI falls into the "obesity" range, your doctor will perform additional tests, such as measuring your skin folds, assessing your level of physical activity and taking a complete medical history of both you and your family.
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