According to MedlinePlus, approximately 300,000 lives in the United States could be saved each year if everyone stayed at a healthy weight. Your body mass index, or BMI, can help you determine if your weight is healthy for your height. Keeping your BMI in the "normal" weight category can help you lower your risk for developing weight-related diseases and conditions.
Calculate BMI
To calculate your BMI, you can use an online calculator, such as the one from the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, or you can do it yourself using a calculator. To calculate it yourself, start by multiplying your weight in pounds by 703. Next, divide that answer by your height, in inches. Divide that result by your height in inches again. The resulting number is your BMI. Your BMI is then classified into a weight category.
Categories
A BMI between 18.5 and 24.9 indicates a normal, healthy weight for your height. The "overweight" category includes those with BMIs between 25 and 29.9. A BMI of 30 or higher falls into the "obese" category. As your BMI increases, so does your risk for developing conditions associated with excess weight. While BMI is generally a reliable indicator of body fat and disease risk for most people, it does have some limitations.
Limitations
Your body mass index does not directly measure your body fat, but according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, your BMI does correlate to other direct measures of body fat. BMI is used as a screening tool because it is inexpensive and easy to use for the general population. Although BMI is fairly reliable, it can overestimate the BMI of highly trained athletes and body-builders.
Benefits
Keeping your BMI in the normal range, or losing weight to reach a healthy BMI, can provide you with many health benefits. Staying at a healthy weight can help you control your blood pressure, cholesterol and help you lower your risk for developing heart disease, type 2 diabetes, some types of cancer and osteoarthritis. If your BMI falls outside the healthy range, you should consider starting a weight loss program to improve your health and risk of disease.
Recommendations
You should calculate your BMI to see if you are at an optimal weight for your height. If you are overweight, MayoClinic.com recommends changing your lifestyle to help you lose weight and keep it off. The website recommends eating healthier foods and controlling your portion sizes, along with getting plenty of exercise. If you need help putting together a weight loss program, visit your doctor or registered dietitian to help you develop a plan that meets your specific needs.
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