A person's body mass, more commonly referred to as "body weight," is a measurement of how heavy the person is. This measurement is represented by pounds in the United States, whereas other countries may use kilograms. It is important to maintain a body mass that falls in a healthy range to lower certain health risks.
Body Mass Index
Body Mass Index (BMI) compares a person's height and weight to determine whether the person is in a healthy weight range. A formula is used that results in a number, and each number will fall into a particular category. According to BMI number ranges, a person will be defined as underweight, healthy, overweight or obese. Although BMI does not directly measure the fat in a person's body, it is a helpful tool to screen for any potential medical conditions.
Although adults and children are charted using a different BMI number range, all BMI measurements use the same formulas. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the BMI formula used in the United States is: weight (lb) / [height (in)]2 x 703. For countries that use the metric system, the body's weight is represented by kilograms and meters/centimeters. The metric BMI formula is: weight (kg) / [height (m)]2.
Adult Body Mass
By the time a person reaches adulthood, there is a general range for how much that person should weigh in accordance to height. A doctor may wish to do a complete study on a person's body fat by measuring skinfold thickness or weighing a person underwater. However, a BMI number is a helpful screening tool and is the one most commonly used to determine the health of one's body mass.
An adult with a BMI below 18.5 is defined as underweight. A healthy BMI range is 18.5 to 24.9, and an overweight person will be fall between 25.0 and 29.9. A BMI of 30.0 and above is considered obese. For example, using the U.S. BMI formula, a person who measures 5 feet 9 inches should weigh between 125 and 168 pounds to be considered a healthy weight.
Child Body Mass
A child's BMI is determined differently than an adult's because the expected weight of a growing child changes according to age. Although this BMI is still based on height and weight, it is plotted on a BMI-for-age growth chart and assigned a percentile ranking instead of a number. This percentile compares the child's body mass with other children the same age.
If the percentile is less than 5 percent, that means the child is underweight and at least 95 percent of the child's peers weigh more. The 5th to 85th percentile range is considered a healthy BMI. An overweight child is defined as being between the 85th and 95th percentile, and anything higher than 95 percent is considered obese.
Health Risks of Being Overweight
It is important to maintain a healthy body mass because an overweight body is more susceptible to health problems. According to the CDC, being overweight can increase the chances of developing heart disease, type 2 diabetes, cancer, high blood pressure, stroke, liver and gallbladder disease, respiratory problems, joint problems and female infertility.
Achieving a Healthy Body Mass
According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), there are several factors that contribute to a person's weight, such as environment, family history, genetics and metabolism. However, lifestyle choices are usually the biggest contributor to being underweight or overweight.
Rather than going on a fad or seasonal diet, a person should make permanent lifestyle choices that promote a healthy weight. The NIH recommends a healthy diet, regular physical exercise and a limit on the amount of time spent inactive. If you want to lose weight, cut 500 calories from your diet each day. That, combined with regular activity, should help you reach and maintain a healthy body mass.
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