Body Mass Index usually abbreviated as BMI is most common tool to measure your physical health status. It is used widely and its application regarding measurement of obesity is a very practical.

Definition

It is defined as the weight to height ratio of an individual. It depends upon the weight and height.
Formula Body mass index is weight divided by height squared of a person.
BMI =weight/height2 It can be measured both in metric system and in pound-inches system. It is also known as Obesity Index or Quetelet Index, as it was developed by a Belgian Polymath Adolphe Quetelet in 4th decade of 19th century. In metric system its units are kg/m2 but in pound -inch system it is expressed in lbs/inches2.

BMI a WHO recommended tool

BMI is a WHO recommended tool for the measurement of obesity and overweight status of a person. Now WHO stresses upon the use of BMI to assess the weight issues and obesity rather than conventional height and weight charts.

Easy to use

BMI is simple and easy to use at home also. There is no technical assistance required by some professional. These simple statistics give good idea about a person’s health and weight. The other thing with the BMI is its quite good application and interpretation.

Interpreting your BMI

A BMI calculation reading may fall in the following four grades

Obesity grades	BMI	Interpretation
Not Applicable	Under 18	Underweight
Grade 0	Between 18-25	Normal
Grade 1	25.9-29.9	Overweight
Grade 2	30-39.9	Obesity
Grade 3	40 and above	Severe Obesity

From this table one can easily get idea where ones health status lies. This interpretation also helps a person to sort out the obesity grade in which one stands.

BMI may be misleading

It can be misleading about the adiposity of the of a person when the person has muscular built. A person may have BMI of 30 without being obese. This is because the BMI only gives the statistical measure of a person’s fatty tissue it is not a direct measure of adipose tissue of body as done in skinfold test or by measuring by bioelectrical impedance. Even BMI can over state a community obesity level and can give false indication of obesity.

BMI Formula

            Weight in Pounds             
(Height in inches) x (Height in inches)

OR

            Weight in Kilograms             
(Height in Meters) x (Height in Meters)

BMI calculator

BMI table

There is a BMI table for the comparison of your BMI and knowing your obesity level.

	Normal						Overweight					Obese										Extreme Obesity
BMI	19	20	21	22	23	24	25	26	27	28	29	30	31	32	33	34	35	36	37	38	39	40	41	42	43	44	45	46	47	48	49	50	51	52	53	54
Height (ft.,in.)												Body Weight (pounds)
4' 10"	91	96	100	105	110	115	119	124	129	134	138	143	148	153	158	162	167	172	177	181	186	191	196	201	205	210	215	220	224	229	234	239	244	248	253	258
4' 11"	94	99	104	109	114	119	124	128	133	138	143	148	153	158	163	168	173	178	183	188	193	198	203	208	212	217	222	227	232	237	242	247	252	257	262	267
5'	97	102	107	112	118	123	128	133	138	143	148	153	158	163	168	174	179	184	189	194	199	204	209	215	220	225	230	235	240	245	250	255	261	266	271	276
5' 1"	100	106	111	116	122	127	132	137	143	148	153	158	164	169	174	180	185	190	195	201	206	211	217	222	227	232	238	243	248	254	259	264	269	275	280	285
5' 2"	104	109	115	120	126	131	136	142	147	153	158	164	169	175	180	186	191	196	202	207	213	218	224	229	235	240	246	251	256	262	267	273	278	284	289	295
5' 3"	107	113	118	124	130	135	141	146	152	158	163	169	175	180	186	191	197	203	208	214	220	225	231	237	242	248	254	259	265	270	278	282	287	293	299	304
5' 4"	110	116	122	128	134	140	145	151	157	163	169	174	180	186	192	197	204	209	215	221	227	232	238	244	250	256	262	267	273	279	285	291	296	302	308	314
5' 5"	114	120	126	132	138	144	150	156	162	168	174	180	186	192	198	204	210	216	222	228	234	240	246	252	258	264	270	276	282	288	294	300	306	312	318	324
5' 6"	118	124	130	136	142	148	155	161	167	173	179	186	192	198	204	210	216	223	229	235	241	247	253	260	266	272	278	284	291	297	303	309	315	322	328	334
5' 7"	121	127	134	140	146	153	159	166	172	178	185	191	198	204	211	217	223	230	236	242	249	255	261	268	274	280	287	293	299	306	312	319	325	331	338	344
5' 8"	125	131	138	144	151	158	164	171	177	184	190	197	203	210	216	223	230	236	243	249	256	262	269	276	282	289	295	302	308	315	322	328	335	341	348	354
5' 9"	128	135	142	149	155	162	169	176	182	189	196	203	209	216	223	230	236	243	250	257	263	270	277	284	291	297	304	311	318	324	331	338	345	351	358	365
5' 10"	132	139	146	153	160	167	174	181	188	195	202	209	216	222	229	236	243	250	257	264	271	278	285	292	299	306	313	320	327	334	341	348	355	362	369	376
5' 11"	136	143	150	157	165	172	179	186	193	200	208	215	222	229	236	243	250	257	265	272	279	286	293	301	308	315	322	329	338	343	351	358	365	372	379	386
6'	140	147	154	162	169	177	184	191	199	206	213	221	228	235	242	250	258	265	272	279	287	294	302	309	316	324	331	338	346	353	361	368	375	383	390	397
6' 1"	144	151	159	166	174	182	189	197	204	212	219	227	235	242	250	257	265	272	280	288	295	302	310	318	325	333	340	348	355	363	371	378	386	393	401	408
6' 2"	148	155	163	171	179	186	194	202	210	218	225	233	241	249	256	264	272	280	287	295	303	311	319	326	334	342	350	358	365	373	381	389	396	404	412	420
6' 3"	152	160	168	176	184	192	200	208	216	224	232	240	248	256	264	272	279	287	295	303	311	319	327	335	343	351	359	367	375	383	391	399	407	415	423	431
6' 4"	156	164	172	180	189	197	205	213	221	230	238	246	254	263	271	279	287	295	304	312	320	328	336	344	353	361	369	377	385	394	402	410	418	426	435	443

Source: National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute

* The BMI score is valid for both men and women but it does have some limits.

• It may overestimate body fat in athletes and others who have a muscular build.
• It may underestimate body fat in older persons and others who have lost muscle mass.

‹ StrokeupFind Your Obesity Level ›

• Login or register to post comments