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What You Need to Know About....
BMI
Our "Just the FAQs" article series brings you answers to some of the more popular questions our About.com weight loss visitors have asked. To submit a question for an upcoming installment, simply e-mail your Guide! This week, we cover what you need to know about BMI.
Q: I keep hearing people refer to their BMI as a way to gauge their weight loss. What in the world is this and how do you know what yours is?
A: According to FirstGov for Consumers, a consumer resource information source from the federal government, BMI is "...the measurement of choice for many physicians and researchers studying obesity. BMI uses a mathematical formula that takes into account both a person's height and weight."*
In other words, BMI -- which stands for Body Mass Index -- is an excellent way to determine how close you are to a healthy weight. It is a better alternative to just stepping on a scale and being done with assessing your weight via the numbers on the scale. Why? It's more accurate than just weighing yourself because it takes your height into account in its results. The results are then categorized into a health risk index. Therefore, BMI gives more accurate, individualized results than using the simple scales and height/weight charts that have been popular in the past.
More specifically, knowing your BMI helps you or your health professional assess whether you are considered overweight or if you are at a BMI that qualifies you as being obese. Health care providers have a system for determining how your health is affected by your BMI. In short, the higher your BMI, the more likely you are to develop weight-related health issues.
To sum up the formula, your BMI is calculated by dividing your weight by your height squared (in meters). The resulting number will be located on a scale of BMIs to determine what category you fall into.
Before you give yourself a headache trying to do the math in your head or break out that calculator, be sure to check out the online tools that will help you. The National Institutes of Health's National Heart Lung and Blood Institute, provides a handy calculator you can plug your height and weight into to determine your BMI. There is also a table where you can cross-reference your weight and height to find your BMI.
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