Health care providers use a body mass measurement as an indicator for body fat. Although this does not directly measure the amount of fat in the body, it is a reliable tool to identify and assess possible weight issues. To calculate your body mass index, divide your weight in pounds by the square of your height in inches and then multiply by 703. The BMI provides a standardized way for people to compare their weight status.
Adults
Adults can interpret their body mass measurements using a set of standard categories developed for men and women of all ages. For adults over the age of 20, a BMI of less than 18.5 puts you in the category of underweight. Those with a BMI of 18.5 to 24.9 fall into the normal category. A BMI of 25.0 to 29.9 indicates you are overweight, while those with a BMI of 30.0 or higher are considered obese.
Children and Teens
Children and teens calculate their body mass measurement the same as adults, but because body fat changes with age and differs between girls and boys, they interpret the results differently. To interpret a child's body mass and determine how they compare to others of their same age, you must plot the measurement on a BMI-for-age growth chart provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This gives a percentile ranking that can be used to assess the size and growth pattern for the child. The standard categories list children under the fifth percentile as underweight. Children that fall in the fifth percentile to less than the 85th percentile fall into the healthy weight category. The 85th percentile to less than the 95th percentile is considered overweight, while those over the 95th percentile are classified as obese.
Significance
The body mass measurement can identify weight issues but should not be used for diagnostic purposes. Highly trained athletes, for example, may measure a high body mass due to increased muscularity, not because of added body fat. For this reason, those who fall into the overweight or obese categories should undergo additional tests to measure body fat, such as the skinfold thickness measurement of underwater weight. For the majority of the population, however, monitoring your BMI helps assess risk for chronic diseases associated with becoming overweight or obese.
Health Consequences
If your BMI falls into the overweight or obese category, your risk for developing chronic diseases increases. Chronic conditions related to being overweight or obese include hypertension, also known as high blood pressure; high cholesterol levels; and type 2 diabetes. These health conditions contribute to the onset of heart disease, the leading cause of death for men and women in the United States. Other conditions, including gall bladder disease, osteoarthritis, sleep apnea and certain cancers, occur more frequently in those who are overweight and obese.
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