Weight loss requires diet and exercise, but determining exactly how much weight you need to lose, how many calories you should have in your diet and which exercises are effective is sometimes difficult. Online calculators can help you design a healthy lifestyle that will lead to weight loss. Calculators are convenient ways to get an idea of where you stand, but you should always consult a doctor before making any significant changes to your lifestyle.
Body Mass Index
Your body mass index is a calculation based on your weight and height. A BMI calculator uses that data to place you in a weight range. Possible results include being underweight, normal weight, overweight or obese. Once you find out your result, use it to design your weight-loss program. Note that children must use a specially designed calculator that takes into consideration the needs of their developing bodies.
Calories
Calorie calculators analyze your lifestyle and physical condition to determine how many calories your body requires in a typical day. Enter your age, height, sex and activity level to determine how many calories your body needs to maintain your current weight. Use the calculator's answer to design a diet that provides fewer calories than your result so that your body will start to burn fat.
Physical Activity
Use a physical-activity calorie calculator to determine how many calories you burn during your favorite forms of exercise. A typical calculator will use your body weight and the length of your workout to determine how many calories a particular activity burns. Select an activity you enjoy, and perform it every day to maximize your weight-loss results.
Considerations
Online calculators provide you with estimates, but they might give you the wrong information. For example, while BMI calculators can provide a rough estimate of whether you are overweight, differences in body composition can lead to inaccurate results. For instance, muscle is heavier than fat, so a BMI calculator might place muscle-bound people in the overweight category when they are actually in good physical shape. For every calculator you use, read the accompanying warnings and notes to ensure that it is suitable for you and to learn what limitations the calculator has.
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