Your body mass index, which is calculated using your weight, can potentially tell you if you're overweight or obese. According to the Weight Control Information Network, or WIN, more than 66 percent of Americans carry around extra weight, putting them at risk for certain diseases and health complications. However, using weight and BMI to assess your physical health won't always tell you how much fat you actually have on your body.
Calculating BMI
You can calculate your BMI metrically using your weight in kilograms and your height in centimeters, but you can also calculate it just as efficiently using pounds and inches. The latter is defined as your weight in pounds, divided by your height in inches, squared; then multiply this number by 703. If you choose to use the metric system, the formula used to calculate your BMI is: weight (kg) / [height (cm)]2 x 703. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or CDC, notes that the formula to calculate BMI for adults and children is the same, regardless of gender.
Sample Calculation
Say, for example, your weight is 190 lbs. and your height is 5 feet, 10 inches, or 70 inches. Divide 190 by 70 squared, or 4,900, which is 0.039. Now, multiply 0.039 by 703 for a sum of 27.26 -- this is your BMI. According to BMI ranges associated with certain height ranges, if you have a BMI of 18.5 or below, you're underweight; a BMI of 18.5 to 24.8 is considered normal. A BMI of 27.26 places you in the overweight category -- 25.0 to 29.9. A BMI of 30.0 and above is generally considered obese. However, according to WIN, if you're a trained athlete, such as a body builder with a lot of lean muscle mass, you can have a BMI in the overweight or obese range, but be in excellent physical health.
Other Factors
If you're not a trained athlete and carry around excess weight as determined by your BMI, this is only one factor used to determine if you're at risk for health problems related to weight gain or obesity. According to WIN, where you carry your fat is also important. The spare tire or belly fat -- the fat around your waist -- is a source for concern. Women whose waists measure more than 35 inches and men with waist measurements of more than 40 inches are more at risk for health problems simply because body fat is distributed in this area of their person. MayoClinic.Org indicates that the term "normal weight obesity" is used to describe excess body fat, even when BMI and weight are within acceptable ranges.
At Risk
Carrying around extra weight puts you at risk for a number of serious health conditions, including type 2 diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, liver disease, osteoarthritis and cancer, according to WIN. However, a healthy weight and normal BMI may not be enough to put you in the clear, says MayoClinic.Org.
See Your Doctor
If your BMI is between 25 and 30 and you're in good health, look into adopting healthier eating habits and increase your level of physical activity, advises WIN. However, talk to your doctor if your BMI is 30 or above or between 25 and 30 and you or your family members have diabetes or heart disease; or if your waist measurement suggests that you're carrying around extra fat, even if you have a normal BMI.
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