What is the BMI? Find out your number and what it means.

A lot of people want to know what their ideal weight will be. They want to know that magical number that will guarantee optimum health. There are lots of ways to track your ideal weight. Some of the most common and easily available methods are:

• BMI
• Waist circumference

Today I will be discussing one of them, the BMI (Body Mass Index)

Your BMI refers to the measurement of your height in relation to your weight.

It is simply your weight in kg divided by your height in meters.

Let’s say your weight is 80kg

And your height is 1.75m

Multiply your height by 2

1.75m ­­_{× 2} =3.5

Divide your weight with 3.5 above

80kg divided by 3.5 =22.8. Your BMI is 22.8

For you to get your correct BMI, climb on a scale that has both height and weight measurement.

<a href="http://http://abiliti.com/en/bmicalc?metric=true“>

Measure your weight and record it somewhere; on a piece of paper or on your phone. Then measure your height, you can ask someone to help you if you are not familiar with this type of scale.   Record the two measurements on a paper or on your phone.

Now multiply your height by 2

The number you get from the multiplication, divide your weight with it, the number you get is your BMI.

Calculate your BMI <a href="http://http://abiliti.com/en/bmicalc?metric=true“>here

How do you know if you are at the ideal weight?

According to the WHO (World Health Organization) classification, the numbers below will tell you if you are at the ideal weight or not.

• If your BMI is below 18.5, you are underweight. People with a BMI of 18.5 are underweight.
• A BMI of between 18.5 and 25 is the ideal body weight
• If your BMI is between 25 and 30, you are classed as overweight.
• A person with a BMI over 30 is obese.
• If your BMI is over 35, you are classed as morbidly obese

BMI CHART

	NORMAL WEIGHT						OVERWEIGHT					OBESE
BMI Value:	19	20	21	22	23	24	25	26	27	28	29	30	31	32	33	34	35
Height cms (meters)	Body Weight (kilograms / kg)
147cm (1.47m)	41	44	45	48	50	52	54	56	59	61	63	65	67	69	72	73	76
150cm (1.50m)	43	45	47	49	52	54	56	58	60	63	65	67	69	72	74	76	78
152cm (1.52m)	44	46	49	51	54	56	58	60	63	65	67	69	72	74	76	79	81
155cm (1.55m)	45	48	50	53	55	57	60	62	65	67	69	72	74	77	79	82	84
157cm (1.57m)	47	49	52	54	57	59	62	64	67	69	72	74	77	79	82	84	87
160cm (1.60m)	49	51	54	56	59	61	64	66	69	72	74	77	79	82	84	87	89
163cm (1.63m)	50	53	55	58	61	64	66	68	71	74	77	79	82	84	87	89	93
165cm (1.65m)	52	54	57	60	63	65	68	71	73	76	79	82	84	87	90	93	95
168cm (1.68m)	54	56	59	62	64	67	70	73	76	78	81	84	87	90	93	95	98
170cm (1.70m)	55	57	61	64	66	69	72	75	78	81	84	87	90	93	96	98	101
172cm (1.72m)	57	59	63	65	68	72	74	78	80	83	86	89	92	95	98	101	104
175cm (1.75m)	58	61	64	68	70	73	77	80	83	86	89	92	95	98	101	104	107
178cm (1.78m)	60	63	66	69	73	76	79	82	85	88	92	95	98	101	104	107	110
180cm (1.80m)	62	65	68	71	75	78	81	84	88	91	94	98	101	104	107	110	113
183cm (1.83m)	64	67	70	73	77	80	83	87	90	93	97	100	103	107	110	113	117
185cm (1.85m)	65	68	72	75	79	83	86	89	93	96	99	103	107	110	113	117	120
188cm (1.88m)	67	70	74	78	81	84	88	92	95	99	102	106	109	113	116	120	123
191cm (1.91m)	69	73	76	80	83	87	91	94	98	102	105	109	112	116	120	123	127
193cm (1.93m)	71	74	78	82	86	89	93	97	100	104	108	112	115	119	123	127	130

Why is knowing your BMI important

There are certain numbers you should be mindful of when tracking your health and the BMI is one of those numbers. This number keeps you aware of what is going on in your body and helps you to track your weight and your health. When you know your BMI it will be easy for you to track your health, that way you will not need anyone to tell you if you are putting on weight, at your ideal weight or if you are obese.

This information gets you in the management seat of your weight and keeps you one step ahead if you really want to monitor your weight.

It can also help you to prevent the diseases associated with being overweight; such diseases include and are not limited to;

• High blood pressure
• fatty liver
• Sleep apnea
• kidney disease
• Stroke and heart disease
• Osteoarthritis
• Pregnancy problems
• Type 2 diabetes
• Joint pain

Do not compare yourself with people around you when tracking your weight. Don’t look at the person beside you and feel a sense of satisfaction that you are not as fat as. That you are not as fat as Angela or Cynthia does not mean that you do not need to worry about a thing. Instead of comparing yourself with Angela and Cynthia, compare your weight with the BMI chart and do the needful.

Consideration

There are experts who believe that the BMI is not the only tool that should be used to measure a person’s ideal weight. Their reasons include that the;

1. BMI does not tell the difference between fat and muscle. A weightlifter may weigh 140kg with 180cm being his height. That will make his BMI 38.8. That is not fat but muscle, but it cannot tell the difference and so labels the person as obese. This is not the case for everyone. You should know the difference. If it jiggles or you can really pinch it, then it is fat.
2. The calculator cannot tell if your weight is from pregnancy or if you are breastfeeding. Both have the tendency to increase your weight.

Most experts however agree that the BMI is the best and more accurate way to track your weight and maintain a healthy weight.

Calculate your BMI <a href="http://http://abiliti.com/en/bmicalc?metric=true“>here

After calculating your BMI, use the figures you arrive at to help yourself. If you are at the normal BMI range, commit to keep it that way by engaging in exercise and eating healthy. If you are already overweight or obese, do not give way to despair. It is not a hopeless or helpless condition. Take the first step by asking and looking for help. Register in a gym and get a trainer to help you to get back to the normal BMI in a healthy way. Do not say later, take the first step now.

References

http://www.whathealth.com/bmi/chart-metric.html

http://abiliti.com/en/bmicalc?metric=true