If you are a teenager and you're concerned that you are overweight, you can calculate your body mass index to determine if your weight is healthy for your height. Being overweight or obese can lead to health problems if you do not change your lifestyle habits. A BMI score can let you know if you need to start eating better and exercising more frequently.
The BMI Calculation
To calculate your BMI, you first need to find your current weight in pounds and height in inches. You then take your weight and multiply it by 703. Divide the answer by your height in inches. Then, divide it a second time by your height in inches to get your BMI score. You then compare your BMI to a BMI-for-age growth chart to determine which percentile your BMI score falls into. The chart is set up with the age on the horizontal scale or bottom, and the BMI score on the vertical scale or side. Simply plot your age and BMI score. The spot where the two intersect is your percentile. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and TeensHealth have charts on their websites for children and teens. You should not use the adult BMI categories.
Percentile
According to the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention, the BMI percentile indicates the relative position of your BMI number among teenagers of your same sex and age. There are four percentile categories including underweight, healthy, overweight and obese. You are underweight if you are below the fifth percentile, healthy if you fall between the fifth and the 85th percentile, overweight if you fall between the 85th and the 95th percentile and you are considered obese if you fall above the 95th percentile.
Obesity And Health
If you score in the obese category, you need to change your lifestyle today to help prevent health problems in the future. Obesity can lead to heart disease, stroke, cancer, diabetes and arthritis as you age. It is a serious problem and you can manage and prevent it through exercise and proper diet. To lose weight, you have to burn more calories than you consume each day. You can do this by decreasing the number of calories that you eat and increasing your physical activity each day.
Considerations
Losing weight can be tough. If you are concerned that your BMI is too high, talk with your doctor about working with a dietitian to help you plan your meals and exercise. It is important that your parents understand that your BMI is high, therefore you should talk about healthy lifestyle habits together. A simple way to start an exercise program is to walk each day for a minimum of 30 minutes. As you get accustomed to the activity, you can increase your time and speed up.
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