When is a BMI calculator used?

Understanding your BMI

Calculating your BMIusing the Body Mass Index calculatoror manually is just the first step, understanding that it is the next step. To provide you with more information this is the list of types of categories your physical health condition will be classified under in accordance with your BMI -

• If you have BMI is less than 18.5 -

Your health condition could be classified as overweight in respect to others who are of the same gender, age and height.

• You have HTML0 if your BMI is more than 18.5 and 24.9

Your physical health condition would be considered to be healthy in relation to the individuals that are the same age, gender, and height as you.

• If your BMI is > 25 but 29.9

Your physical health issue could be classified as an overweight condition in relation to the individuals who are the same age, gender and height.

• When your BMI is greater than 30

Your physical health issue could be classified as obese in comparison to others who are of the same age, gender and height. Individuals whose physical health condition is classified as obese or obese are generally considered to be more susceptible to developing health problems.

Is there a standard BMIfor men and women?

It is an measure of one's weight in relation to their height and thus the gender is not a very vital role in determining if you're obese, overweight, or underweight, or a healthy individual. To help you understand better this concept, here's an example for a male and a woman with the height of 5'7" with a weight of 81 pounds each have a physical condition categorized as overweight regardless of their gender.

Why is the premium of your health insurance policy more expensive if you're overweight?

Understanding your BMI

Calculating your BMI using the Body Mass Index calculator or manually is only the initial step, understanding it is the next. To give you more clarity Here are the categories your physical health medical condition can be classified into according to your BMI --

• You have a BMI is less than 18.5 -

Your health condition could be classified as being underweight in relation to the individuals that are similar age, gender and height.

• In case your BMI is > 18.5 and 24.9

Your physical health condition could be classified as healthy in comparison to other people who are the same gender, age and height.

• In case your BMI is higher than 25, but is 29.9

Your physical health condition will be classified as overweight relative to other people who are of the same gender, age, and height as you.

• If your BMI is higher than 30

Your physical condition will be classified as obese in relation to the individuals that are the same gender, age and height as you. Persons whose condition is classified as overweight or obese are typically thought to be most susceptible to illnesses of the body.

What is the best BMI for men and women?

BMI Ranges

Now that you know your BMI, check where you're in your BMI range below:

Your BMI is lower than 18.5 -- you're thought to be in the category of being overweight.

Your BMI can be found between 18.5 or 24.9 - you are thought to be in a acceptable weight-to-weight range.

You're BMI will be somewhere between 25.0 to 29.9- you are considered to be overweight.

Your BMI is over 30 - you are considered to be overweight.

My BMI is too high, what can I do to reduce weight?

An ideal first goal to strive for is to lose 10% per cent of body fat. If that's not enough to get you to a healthy weight it's an excellent start for those who are overweight, according to research that shows it's enough to provide health benefits, like lowering risk factors for type 2 diabetes and heart disease. The WW program helps members to be focused on realistic weight loss goals and provides the necessary skills and strategies to help to achieve them.

Are BMI more relevant for men or women?

The same BMI measurements are applicable to both genders , as the same risk of developing a health condition related to weight is applicable to both genders.

Research has proven the connection between having an increased BMI and a higher chance of contracting a range of illnesses, including heart disease, type 2 diabetes, osteoarthritis as well as certain kinds of cancer , such as breast cancer.

Is BMI 100 percent exact?

This isn't always true for everyone. It doesn't distinguish between fat and muscle which is why people who have an excessive amount of muscle mass usually have a high BMI even although their body fat is in the healthy range. In addition, a balanced BMI isn't always a sign of healthy health. Studies show that one-third of those who have healthy BMIs are quite unhealthy once other test results such as blood pressure, glucose levels and cholesterol , are considered.

One reason could be that BMI does not accurately reflect the location where body fat is stored, so it's possible for you to have a healthy BMI, while carrying excess fat around your waistline, a region that can pose a greater health risk than weight carried on your thighs or hips. A 2017 study proved that point, finding that people with excess weight in their middle , yet have healthy BMIs are at highest risk of death due to any cause, as compared to people who have higher BMIs and carry the extra weight elsewhere.

"If I had to choose between making sure my BMI or my waist-to-hip ratio are within the 'normal' range, I would go for the latter," says the University of Sydney's Associate Professor Emmanuel Stamatakis, who co-led the study. "A high waist-to-hip ratio most likely means high amounts of abdominal fat, and we know this comes with quite serious health risks."

Do I have to bother with calculating my BMI?

Yes yes, says Dr Michelle Celander, WW program and Science Director. "BMI gives an overview of how weight affects the likelihood of developing medical issues across a wide range of individuals, so while it may not be a perfect measure of risk to medical for every person, it's valuable as feedback for you.

"But, while it is a good idea to calculate and know what your BMI is, no one piece of feedback about your weight or health should be viewed in isolation, so it's really important to consider your BMI in context of other information and measurements."

What other measurements are important?

Two steps you must make sure to take:

A) Your waist-to-hip ratio
Divide your waist measurement (in centimetres) by the measurement of your hips (in centimetres). A waist-to-hip ratio greater than 0.9 for men in comparison to 0.85 for women suggests an increased risk to health.

B) Your waist-to-height ratio
Divide your waist measurement (in centimetres) by your height (in centimetres). For good health, research suggests keeping your waist circumference to less than half of your height - or a ratio no bigger than 0.5 - is wise.