Body Mass Index (BMI) Assessment

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Nutrition > Diet, Weight Control, and a Healthy Lifestyle > Body Mass Index (BMI) Assessment

What is BMI? | Determining Your BMI | Understanding Your BMI

What is BMI?

BMI is a tool used by health professionals, nutritionists, and some insurance companies to assess risk of health problems linked to body size. BMI relates to body fat. The risk of obesity related health problems increases as your BMI increases. Those risks include, but are not limited to, diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, and stroke.

BMI is increasingly becoming utilized, rather than "ideal weight" charts, to gauge weight management progress.

Determining Your BMI

The Calculation for BMI

BMI = [Weight in pounds ÷ Height in inches ÷ Height in inches] x 703

Determine your BMI by using the table below. Begin by finding your height in inches along the left column. From that height, follow the row to the right until you reach your approximate weight. From your weight, follow the column upwards to the BMI numbers (19-35) along the top row.

Body Mass Index Chart
BMI Height	19	20	21	22	23	24	25	26	27	28	29	30	31	32	33	34	35
58"	91	96	100	105	110	115	119	124	129	134	138	143	148	153	158	162	167
59"	94	99	104	109	114	119	124	128	133	138	143	148	153	158	163	168	173
60"	97	102	107	112	118	123	128	133	138	143	148	153	158	163	168	174	179
61"	100	106	111	116	122	127	132	137	143	148	153	158	164	169	174	180	185
62"	104	109	115	120	126	131	136	142	147	153	158	164	169	175	180	186	191
63"	107	113	118	124	130	135	141	146	152	158	163	169	175	180	186	191	197
64"	110	116	122	128	134	140	145	151	157	163	169	174	180	186	192	197	204
65"	114	120	126	132	138	144	150	156	162	168	174	180	186	192	198	204	210
66"	118	124	130	136	142	148	155	161	167	173	179	186	192	198	204	210	216
67"	121	127	134	140	146	153	159	166	172	178	185	191	198	204	211	217	223
68"	125	131	138	144	151	158	164	171	177	184	190	197	203	210	216	223	230
69"	128	135	142	149	155	162	169	176	185	189	196	203	209	216	223	230	236
70"	132	139	146	153	160	167	174	181	188	195	202	209	216	222	229	236	243
71"	136	143	150	157	165	172	179	186	193	200	208	215	222	229	236	243	250
72"	140	147	154	162	169	177	184	191	199	206	213	221	228	235	242	250	258
73"	144	151	159	166	174	182	189	197	204	212	219	227	235	242	250	257	265
74"	148	155	163	171	179	186	194	202	210	218	225	233	241	249	256	264	272
75"	152	160	168	176	184	192	200	208	216	224	232	240	248	256	264	272	279
76"	156	164	172	180	189	197	205	213	221	230	238	246	254	263	271	279	287

Understanding Your BMI

BMI Categories

Underweight = <18.5
Normal weight = 18.5-24.9
Overweight = 25-29.9
Obesity = BMI of 30 or greater

Lowering BMI by as little as 2 points can greatly decrease the risk of obesity related health problems.

The BMI of those people aged 2 to 20 years old is calculated in the same way as those 21 and older, however, the interpretation is different. Consult with your physician for a correct interpretation of calculated BMI.

BMI is based solely on height and weight. For those who have a high amount of muscle, your BMI may be overestimated. The opposite may hold true for those who are elderly and have lost muscle. BMI scores may be helpful but they are not perfect, there are numerous variables that can affect BMI, such as pregnancy. It is best to consult with your physician.

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