Calculate BMI

What is BMI and How to Calculate your BMI

The world is getting fatter; studies from all across the globe have made it loud and clear. Talk about UK, the rate of obesity has increased fourfold in last 25 years. US, the highest rate of obesity in developed world is credited to this country. But even the developing world is not left far behind; nations all across are suffering from high fat levels and thus associated medical qualms. No wonder, figuring out the answer to question how to calculate your BMI has assumed augmented attention.

BMI calculation is an easy exercise, but that does not implies that the results obtained are of any lesser value. The term is critical and thus it must be rightly understood before getting on to the how to calculate BMI question.

What is BMI?

BMI i.e. the Body Mass Index is a statistical measurement tool, deployed to establish comparison between the individual’s weight and height and thus work out the proportion. Calculate BMI (Body Mass Index) does not generates figures with respect to the specific percentage of body fat in the person, but yields results specific to the body weight in comparison to the height. This results as obtained from this statistical exercise assist identifying the obesity issues.

BMI Value under 16.5 The person is severely underweight and thus needs to take steps to rectify the acute mismatch BMI Value equal to or more than 16.5 and less than 18.5 The figures still suggest underweight scenario, but of course the situation is not as bad BMI Value equal to or more than 18.5 and less than 25 The individual is perfectly normal and obesity is not an issue of concern BMI Value equal to or more than 25 and less than 30 BMI figures suggest overweight scenario and thus warning signals to take an exercise plus diet schedule with immediate effect. BMI Value equal to or more than 30 and less than 35 At this point, the individual is definitely obese and thus required to take up healthy lifestyle BMI Value equal to or more than 35 If the BMI value is in this grade, the situation is considered to be clinically obese. I.e. the weight is leading towards other clinical ailments.

How to calculate your children’s BMI?

The stated formula to calculate BMI and chart, yield important obesity information for the adults. The same can also be deployed to find out the answer to how to calculate your children’s BMI, with few modifications. In case of children and teens, age and sex are also important factors. It is thus the BMI for age, BMI for sex percentile. The idea is to incorporate amount of body fat changes with age and also provide for the physical differences among boys and girls.  There are various free calculate BMI tools available online, which can be used to calculate BMI for adults, adolescents and children. While the interpretation for adults is simple, in case of children and teens, percentile values will have to be referred to.