Body mass index (BMI) has replaced the weight-for-height table as the most commonly-accepted measurement for determining whether people are obese, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). There is a correlation between having a BMI between 18.5 and 25 and being healthy and living longer, according to "Essentials for Health and Wellness."
Calculating BMI
You can calculate your BMI by dividing your height in inches squared into your weight in pounds and then multiplying the total by 703. If you are 5 feet 5 inches tall (65 inches) and weigh 150 pounds, you would divide 4,225 (65 squared) into 150. The result, .0355, is multiplied by 703 to give you a BMI of 24.96.
Interpreting BMI
The interpretation of BMI is the same for all adults regardless of age, gender, height or weight. If you have a BMI less than 18.5, you are considered underweight. A BMI between 18.5 and 24.9 is normal. You're considered overweight if you have a BMI between 25 and 29.9 and obese if your BMI is 30 and above.
Normal Weight
You can use the CDC's Adult BMI Calculator to find the weight range that is considered "normal" for your height. For example, if you are 5 feet 8 inches tall, "a normal weight range would be from 122 to 164 pounds," according to the BMI Calculator.
Risky BMIs
According to "Essentials for Health and Wellness," you are at a higher risk of the following conditions if your BMI is higher than 25: arthritis, breathing problems, diabetes, gallbladder disease, heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke and varicose veins.
In addition, women with a BMI of at least 30 are three times more likely to die of heart disease than women with a BMI between 18.5 and 25. Men with a BMI of at least 30 are three times more likely to die of heart disease and twice as likely to die of a stroke than men with a BMI between 18.5 and 25.
Fat vs. Muscle
The CDC acknowledges that BMI isn't a perfect indicator of future health because weight includes pounds from muscle and fat. "Highly trained athletes may have a high BMI because of increased muscularity rather than increased body fatness," reports the CDC. The CDC suggests looking at two other predictors of future health, such as waist circumference or other risks associated with obesity, including lack of exercise and high blood pressure, to determine your overall fitness level.
Children
The interpretation of children's BMI is dependent on age and gender. Boys and girls have different amounts of body fat and the amount of body fat changes with age, according to the CDC. The categories--underweight (less than the fifth percentile), healthy weight (fifth to less than 85th percentile), overweight (85th to less than 95th percentile) and obese (95th percentile and above)--are based on comparisons with other children.
References
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: "About BMI for Adults"
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: "About BMI for Children and Teens"
- "Essentials for Health and Wellness;" Gordon Edlin, Eric Golanty, Kelli McCormack Brown; 2000
- "The Well Adult;" Dr. Mike Samuels and Nancy Samuels; 1988
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