General fitness and health is directly related to a person's weight. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) uses body mass index (BMI) as a tool to determine if a person is in a weight category that can lead to possible health issues later in life. How much muscle an individual has in relation to body fat is another indicator of health risks and overall fitness. Muscle composition and BMI are gauges of fitness and useful tools for improving overall health.
Muscle & BMI
Lean body mass consists of muscle, bones, major organs and connective tissue. The rest is fat. Body mass index (BMI) is a tool used to measure weight relative to height. It is an indicator of body fat not a measure of body fat. BMI can overestimate body fat in muscular people and underestimate body fat in those who have lost muscle mass, according to the National Institutes of Health. The more lean muscle an individual has, the higher their metabolic rate. They burn more calories, lose weight faster and are able to maintain a healthy weight level and a lower BMI.
Uses
BMI is a tool used by the medical profession, personal trainers and the military. The military has strict regulations on the level of fitness and body fat for soldiers. Personal trainers use BMI as an assessment tool for fitness programs. Medical professionals use BMI as a screening tool for obesity and other weight problems. BMI, as an indicator of body fatness, helps medical and sports professionals assess and design programs for muscle building to aide in weight loss and fitness. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends children from the age of 2 on be tested and screened for obesity.
How to Measure BMI
BMI is calculated by using height and weight measurements. This can be calculated by using the formula of dividing weight in pounds by height in inches squared and multiplying by a conversion factor of 703, or putting the measurements into a BMI calculator.
A BMI assessment below 18.5 is underweight; 18.5 to 24.9 is normal; 25 to 29.9 is overweight; and 30+ is obese.
BMI for children and teens up to 20 uses their age, height, weight and sex. These measurements are put into a children's BMI calculator. Children's numbers are a translation of BMI into a percentile chart for interpreting weight categories.
Significance
BMI is an assessment tool that indicates whether an individual is overweight. Individuals with more lean muscle than body fat have lower risks of weight-related health problems. Muscle to body fat ratio is significant in screening for obesity and determining health risks associated with high body fat levels combined with low muscle mass.
Benefits
Benefits of regular BMI measurements can improve health by alerting the individual of possible health issues with obesity and being overweight. A doctor or health professional can design a program for building muscle mass and weight loss. By increasing the amount of lean muscle, the body's metabolic rate is increased, thereby aiding in weight loss. Understanding BMI along with resources for improving dietary intake, increasing lean muscle and physical exercise leads to a healthier population.
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