To determine the amount of fat in your body and gauge whether you're at a healthy weight for your height, you can check your body mass index. While BMI does not measure body fat directly, it's been shown to correlate to those methods that do, such as underwater weighing and dual energy x-ray absorptiometry. Knowing your BMI, and keeping track of it, is an inexpensive and simple method of helping you determine whether you should gain a bit of weight or lose some to remain healthy and fit.
Body Mass Index
Body mass index uses your height and weight to calculate whether you are overweight, underweight or obese. To calculate your BMI, divide your weight in pounds by your height in inches squared, then multiply the result by 703.
BMI Values
A BMI between 18.5 and 24.9 is considered healthy. A BMI of 23.9, therefore, is in the ideal range and is not overweight. People with a BMI of 30 or above, however, are considered obese, placing them at great risk for health complications. A BMI of between 25 and 29.9 is considered overweight, while a BMI below 18.5 is considered underweight. Like an overweight or obese person, an underweight person can suffer health problems as well.
Limitations
You should keep in mind that BMI does not take into consideration the amount of muscle you have on your body. A person with a lot of muscle mass will weigh more than someone with less and he may have a higher BMI than he normally would. In this case, a body fat composition test might be a better judge of his health standing because it will take into account how much of his body is fat and how much is muscle.
Considerations
Nearly 35 percent of Americans are considered obese, so watching your BMI is important. Being obese or overweight puts you at a greater risk for diabetes, heart disease, stroke, sleep apnea and certain cancers. If your BMI is in the obese or overweight category, you should speak with your doctor about healthy ways to lose weight. Conversely, if your BMI is in the underweight category, talk with your doctor about how to gain weight in a healthy way.
References
- "The Journal of the American Medical Association"; Prevalence and Trends in Obesity Among U.S. Adults, 1999-2008; Katherine M. Flegal, et al.; January 2010
- National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute: Assessing Your Weight and Health Risk
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: About BMI for Adults
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