Why BMI?
Use the Calculator below and the following Charts to determine your BMI and related Health Risk.
Instructions: Use the chart below by first finding your height, then your weight, and finally your BMI.
Then, use the next chart to determine your BMI Health Risk depending on your Waist Circumference.
Then, use the next chart to determine your BMI Health Risk depending on your Waist Circumference.
You can also use the chart above to determine what a healthy weight would be for your height. Males would be in the upper range and females would be in the lower range of the weights listed for BMI's between 21 and 25 for their height. Of course, your weight needs to be composed of mostly lean body mass (muscles, bones, organs, and connective tissues), and less of fat, in order to be truly healthy.
A healthy weight is the key to wellness. Where do you fit in?
Body Mass Index (BMI) and Waist Circumference (WC) are valid measurements of your weight in relation to your health:
- BMI's greater than 25 are associated with increasingly severe health risks, including: heart disease, diabetes, hypertension, osteoarthritis, and many forms of cancer, including colon, breast, and prostate cancers.
- Excess abdominal fat, with a waist circumference greater than 40 inches for men or greater than 35 inches for women, increases a person’s health risk by a full level from their estimated Body Mass Index health risk alone.
In the U.S., 2/3 of adults and 1/3 of teens are obese or over-weight. In fact, obesity (as a co-determinant with inactivity) has become the #1 cause of premature disease, disability, and death in America.
Things to Know about Your BMI
Actually, it's not your Body Mass Index, but your Percent Body Fat (%BF) that is relevant to your health. So, why do we calculate BMI, instead of measuring %BF?
Actually, it's not your Body Mass Index, but your Percent Body Fat (%BF) that is relevant to your health. So, why do we calculate BMI, instead of measuring %BF?
Your Body Mass Index is influenced by both your Fat Mass and your Muscle Mass, and unfortunately, your BMI does not tell you how much of your body mass is fat and how much is muscle. Making that distinction is important, because regarding your health, excess fat is bad, and excess muscle is good (well, up to a point).
However, statistics have shown that for most people (75%), Body Mass Index is an accurate indicator of their "excess body fat," and thus,it relates directly to their weight-related health risk. This is mainly because most people tend to gain fat and lose muscle over time. An increase in weight (or BMI) generally reflects the process of gradually "getting out of shape." So unless you're an avid exerciser and putting on more muscle, your BMI over time is an accurate indicator of your weight-related health risk.
But just to make sure, at Med-Fit, we also measure your Waist Circumference (WC). This additional measurement helps distinguish whether your BMI is mostly fat or mostly muscle. Using your WC to validate your BMI is also useful because it directly measures "abdominal obesity," which is an independent health risk factor.
However, statistics have shown that for most people (75%), Body Mass Index is an accurate indicator of their "excess body fat," and thus,it relates directly to their weight-related health risk. This is mainly because most people tend to gain fat and lose muscle over time. An increase in weight (or BMI) generally reflects the process of gradually "getting out of shape." So unless you're an avid exerciser and putting on more muscle, your BMI over time is an accurate indicator of your weight-related health risk.
But just to make sure, at Med-Fit, we also measure your Waist Circumference (WC). This additional measurement helps distinguish whether your BMI is mostly fat or mostly muscle. Using your WC to validate your BMI is also useful because it directly measures "abdominal obesity," which is an independent health risk factor.
Fortunately, obesity and its related health risks are reversible using proven lifestyle approaches that are safe and effective. Using the latest strategies in nutrition and exercise, overweight/obese individuals can lose 1-3 pounds of fat per week and keep it off. Although getting regular exercise is powerful medicine, it is also critically important to make sure that what and how much you are eating follow healthy nutritional guidelines for supporting safe and permanent fat loss, as well.
A healthy weight (without too much fat and with enough muscle) is the key to wellness, but you can’t get it from a "diet," or a pill, or a surgery, because it’s a Lifestyle!
If you have a BMI over 25, starting an exercise program "to lose the weight" may be more difficult and less rewarding for you. You may want to focus your efforts on nutrition-based fat-loss and lighter physical activity before you engage in "muscle-building" exercises.. Our certified Sports Medicine Technicians will refer you to a local certified Lifestyle Medicine Technician if nutritional weight-reduction support services are indicated for your health and fitness goals.
A healthy weight (without too much fat and with enough muscle) is the key to wellness, but you can’t get it from a "diet," or a pill, or a surgery, because it’s a Lifestyle!
If you have a BMI over 25, starting an exercise program "to lose the weight" may be more difficult and less rewarding for you. You may want to focus your efforts on nutrition-based fat-loss and lighter physical activity before you engage in "muscle-building" exercises.. Our certified Sports Medicine Technicians will refer you to a local certified Lifestyle Medicine Technician if nutritional weight-reduction support services are indicated for your health and fitness goals.
Q: Why not just measure Percent Body Fat?
A: %BF vs BMI + WC -- Bioelectrical Impedence Analysis (BIA) is a method that some scales and hand-held devices use to estimate Percent Body Fat. Although this method is convenient and affordable, it has a plus/minus range of 4%, which makes it not precise enough for clinical or research purposes. The more accurate methods for measuring %BF (e.g., underwater weighing or skin-fold measurements) are complicated, more expensive, and require skilled personnel. In contrast, BMI can be easily calculated from two simple measurements (height & weight), which are accurate and reliable. When coupled with Waist Circumference, another simple and accurate measurement, BMI is a valid assessment of health risk that can be tracked easily and accurately, making it most appropriate for use with the general public.
A: %BF vs BMI + WC -- Bioelectrical Impedence Analysis (BIA) is a method that some scales and hand-held devices use to estimate Percent Body Fat. Although this method is convenient and affordable, it has a plus/minus range of 4%, which makes it not precise enough for clinical or research purposes. The more accurate methods for measuring %BF (e.g., underwater weighing or skin-fold measurements) are complicated, more expensive, and require skilled personnel. In contrast, BMI can be easily calculated from two simple measurements (height & weight), which are accurate and reliable. When coupled with Waist Circumference, another simple and accurate measurement, BMI is a valid assessment of health risk that can be tracked easily and accurately, making it most appropriate for use with the general public.
Learn more about Body Composition: