One very important part of staying healthy is being at a healthy weight. BMI, or body mass index, is a calculation that estimates your overall body fatness--that is, how much of your body is comprised of fat. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention considers BMI to be a good way for people to determine if they are at a healthy weight, or to gauge just how over- or under-weight they are. An ideal (normal) BMI for adult men and women is between 18.5 and 24.9.
How BMI is calculated
You can calculate your BMI from your weight and your height using an online BMI calculator (see Resources) or by doing a fairly simple calculation at home. First, square your height in inches (that is, multiply the number by itself). Next, take your weight in pounds and divide it by your squared height. Finally, multiple the resulting quotient by 703. The resulting number is your BMI.
What Your BMI means
A BMI between 18.5 and 24.9, which is considered "normal," means that you are not overweight or underweight. If you have a BMI close to 24.9, you may want to monitor your weight carefully to make sure that you do not gain weight. A BMI over 25 is considered overweight. Likewise, a BMI close to 18.5 is on the verge of being underweight. You should monitor your weight carefully to ensure that you do not lose additional weight.
Abnormal BMIs
If you have a BMI between 25 and 29.9, you are considered overweight. Talk to your doctor about whether you need to take steps to avoid gaining more weight, or whether you actually need to lose weight. Depending on your lifestyle and other risk factors, you may be at an increased risk of developing hypertension, heart disease, stroke, Type 2 diabetes, and some cancers.
If you have a BMI above 30, you are obese, and you are at a much increased risk of developing the conditions listed above. Talk to your doctor about ways in which you can lose the extra weight in a safe manner. According to the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), even limited weight loss (10 percent of your current weight) could help to lower your risk of developing those diseases.
If you have a BMI below 18.5, you are underweight. You may not be getting enough nutrients to remain healthy. Talk to your doctor.
Other Ways to Measure Health
According to the U.S. National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, there are other health indicators that can help you determine if you are at an increased risk for heart disease, diabetes and related conditions.
One is the circumference of your waist, which provides a good measure of how much abdominal fat you have. To measure it, hold measuring tape snugly around your waist and assess the circumference in inches. Women who have a circumference over 35 inches, and men who have a circumference over 40 inches, are at increased risk for developing heart disease and other diseases.
Other risk factors for heart disease and diabetes include having high blood pressure, being physically inactive, smoking, having high LDL ("bad") cholesterol, having low HDL ("good") cholesterol, having high triglycerides, having high blood sugar, and having a family history of premature heart disease.
Limitations
BMI is not always a reliable indicator of body fatness. According to the CDC, it overestimates body fat in athletes and people who have muscular builds, and it underestimates total body fat in older people and people who have low muscle mass.
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