Body Mass Index (BMI)

May 26, 2007

The body mass index is a preferred method used by many leading health practitioners to calculate body fat. This is an index of your weight in relation to your height.

Four Easy Steps To Calculate BMI

Step One: Find out your weight in kilograms. (kg)

Step Two: Find out your height in cm (height in cm = height in inches x 2.54)

Step Three: Convert your height in meter (cm / 100)

Step Four: BMI = weight in kg / (height in m)2

For example: If your weight is 70 kg and the height is 5 ft 9 inches. Height: 5’9” = 69 inches = 175 cm = 1.75mBMI = 70 / 1.752 = 22.9 kg / m2

The BMI of a normal person should range between 18.5 – 25. If it is more than 25 then one is considered as obese. The BMI of an underweight person is less than 18.5 while an overweight person’s BMI ranges between 25.0 – 29.9. Grade I obese person’s BMI is between 30.0 – 34.9 while Grade II ranges from 35.0 – 39.9. A person suffering from severe obesity has BMI more than 40.

These figures are not to confuse or create panic but to make us realize where we stand so that we can safeguard ourselves from future health risks.