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What Is Body Mass Index?

BMI

By primehealthblogPublished 3 years ago 10 min read
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Body mass index (BMI) is a value derived from the mass (weight) and height of a person

Overview:

About (BMI)- Many of you want to know the answer to this question: How much should I weigh? However, there is not a single ideal healthy weight for each person, because a number of different factors play a role in your weight.

These include age, height, sex, muscle-fat ratio, and body fat distribution, or body shape.

But, there is not one perfect healthy weight for every individual, as quite a few unique aspects play a role.

Having excess weight may affect a person’s risk of developing numerous health ailments, such as obesity, type 2 diabetes, obesity, higher blood pressure, and cardiovascular issues.

Not everyone who carries excess weight develops health issues.

However, researchers think that while these additional pounds might not currently impact a person’s health, a lack of control could lead to problems in the future.

Body mass index:

(BMI) is a common tool for deciding whether or not a person has a proper body weight. It measures an individual’s weight in relation to his or her height.

A BMI of less than 18.5 signifies an individual is underweight.

BMI of between 18.5 and 24.9 is ideal.

Body mass index of between 25 and 29.9 is overweight.

A BMI over 30 indicates obesity.

Body Mass Index Calculator

To calculate your BMI, you can use the National Institute of Health to determine your Body Mass Index.

Body Mass Index Calculator

Weight and height manual graph:

The subsequent weight and height chart uses BMI tables from the National Institute of Health to ascertain how much a person’s weight should be for their height.

Height

Weight

Normal

Overweight

Obesity

Severe obesity

4ft 10″(58″)

91 to 115 lbs.

119 to 138 lbs.

143 to 186 lbs.

191 to 258 lbs.

4ft 11″(59″)

94 to 119 lbs.

124 to 143 lbs.

148 to 193 lbs.

198 to 267 lbs.

5ft (60″)

97 to 123 lbs.

128 to 148 lbs.

153 to 199 lbs.

204 to 276 lbs.

5ft 1″(61″)

100 to 127 lbs.

132 to 153 lbs.

158 to 206 lbs.

211 to 285 lbs.

5ft 2″(62″)

104 to 131 lbs.

136 to 158 lbs.

164 to 213 lbs.

218 to 295 lbs.

5ft 3″(63″)

107 to 135 lbs.

141 to 163 lbs.

169 to 220 lbs.

225 to 304 lbs.

5ft 4″(64″)

110 to 140 lbs.

145 to 169 lbs.

174 to 227 lbs.

232 to 314 lbs.

5ft 5″(65″)

114 to 144 lbs.

150 to 174 lbs.

180 to 234 lbs.

240 to 324 lbs.

5ft 6″(66″)

118 to 148 lbs.

155 to 179 lbs.

186 to 241 lbs.

247 to 334 lbs.

5ft 7″(67″)

121 to 153 lbs.

159 to 185 lbs.

191 to 249 lbs.

255 to 344 lbs.

5ft 8″(68″)

125 to 158 lbs.

164 to 190 lbs.

197 to 256 lbs.

262 to 354 lbs.

5ft 9″(69″)

128 to 162 lbs.

169 to 196 lbs.

203 to 263 lbs.

270 to 365 lbs.

5ft 10″(70″)

132 to 167 lbs.

174 to 202 lbs.

209 to 271 lbs.

278 to 376 lbs.

5ft 11″(71″)

136 to 172 lbs.

179 to 208 lbs.

215 to 279 lbs.

286 to 386 lbs.

6ft (72″)

140 to 177 lbs.

184 to 213 lbs.

221 to 287 lbs.

294 to 397 lbs.

6ft 1″(73″)

144 to 182 lbs.

189 to 219 lbs.

227 to 295 lbs.

302 to 408 lbs.

6ft 2″(74″)

148 to 186 lbs.

194 to 225 lbs.

233 to 303 lbs.

311 to 420 lbs.

6ft 3″(75″)

152 to 192 lbs.

200 to 232 lbs.

240 to 311 lbs.

319 to 431 lbs.

6ft 4″(76″)

156 to 197 lbs.

205 to 238 lbs.

246 to 320 lbs.

328 to 443 lbs.

BMI

19 to 24

25 to 29

30 to 39

40 to 54

What’s the problem with BMI?

BMI is a really straightforward dimension. While it takes height into consideration, It Doesn’t account for variables such as:

Waist or hip measurements

Percentage or supply of fat

Percentage of muscle mass

These, also, can have an impact on health.

High-performance athletes, as for instance, tend to be quite fit and have very little body fat.

They may have a higher BMI because they have more muscle mass, but this doesn’t mean they are overweight.

BMI may also supply a rough idea of whether a person’s weight is healthy, and it is beneficial for measuring trends in population studies.

But it should not be the sole measure for somebody to assess whether their weight is ideal or not.

Waist to Hip Ratio:

A person’s waist-to-hip dimension contrasts their waist size with that of their hips.

Studies have revealed that people who have more body fat around their center are more likely to develop cardiovascular disease (CVD) and diabetes.

The higher the waist measurement in proportion to the buttocks, the larger the risk.

Therefore, the waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) is a helpful tool for calculating if a person has a healthy weight and dimensions.

Measure your waist-to-hip ratio:

Measure around the waist at the narrowest part, usually just above the belly button.

Divide this measurement by the measurement around your cool in its widest part.

In case a person’s waist is 28 inches and their hips are 36 inches, they will divide 28 by 36. This will give them 0.77.

What does it mean?

How WHR impacts the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) is different for women and men because they generally have different body shapes.

In males:

Below 0.9: The chance of cardiovascular health issues is reduced.

From 0.9 to 0.99: The risk is moderate.

At 1.0 or above: The risk is high.

In females:

Beneath 0.8: The danger is low.

From 0.8 to 0.89: The risk is moderate.

At 0.9 or above: The risk is high.

But, these amounts may fluctuate, based upon the origin and the population to which they apply.

WHR may be a better predictor of heart attacks and other health risks than BMI, which does not take fat distribution into account.

A study of health records for 1,349 people in 11 states, printed in 2013, revealed that people who have a higher WHR also have an increased risk of medical and surgical complications concerning colorectal surgery.

But, WHR does not accurately measure an individual’s total body fat percentage or their muscle-to-fat ratio.

Waist-to-height ratio:

The waist-to-height ratio (WtHR) is just another tool that might predict the risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and overall mortality more effectively than BMI.

A person whose waist dimension is less than half their height has a lower chance of a number of life-threatening health complications.

Quantify your waist-to-height ratio:

To figure out the WtHR, an individual should split their waist size with their height. If the answer is 0.5 or less, the chances are that they have a healthy weight.

A woman who is 5 feet and 4 inches tall (163 cm), should have a waist measurement under 32 inches (81 cm).

A man who is 6 ft or 183 centimeters (cm) tall, should have a waist measurement below 36 inches or 91 cm.

These dimensions provide a WtHR of just under 0.5.

In a study published in 2014 in Plos One, researchers reasoned that WtHR was a better predictor of mortality than BMI.

The writers also cited findings from another study between figures for around 300,000 people from different cultural groups.

Which reasoned that WHtR is far better than BMI at predicting heart attacks, strokes, diabetes, and hypertension.

This also implies that the WHtR could be a helpful screening tool.

Measurements that take waist dimensions into consideration can be great indicators of a person’s health risks.

Since fat that collects around the center can be detrimental to the heart, kidneys, and liver.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) notice a guy with a waist size of 40 inches or above.

A woman with a waist size of 35 inches or above has a higher risk than other people of:

Type 2 diabetes

High blood pressure

Coronary artery disease

This doesn’t, however, take a person’s height or cool size into account.

Body fat percent:

The body fat percentage

The body fat percentage (BFP) is of a human or another living being is the total mass of fat divided by total body mass, multiplied by 100

Body fat percentage is the weight of a person’s fat divided by their total weight.

Total body fat incorporates storage and essential fat.

Essential fat: A person requires essential fat to survive. It plays a part in a wide array of physiological functions.

For men, it’s healthy to have 2 to 4 percent of their body composition as essential fat.

Storage fat: connective tissue protects the inner organs in the chest and abdomen, and the body is able to use it if necessary for energy.

Aside from the approximate guidelines for women and men, the ideal total fat percentage may depend on an individual’s body type or activity level.

ACE urges the following proportions:

Activity level Male body type Female body type

Athletes 6–13% 14–20%

Blend non-athletes 14–17% 21–24%

Acceptable 18–25% 25–31%

Overweight 26—37% 32–41%

Obesity 38% or more 42% or more

A large percentage of body fat can indicate a greater risk of:

Diabetes

Heart disorder

High blood pressure

Stroke

Calculating body fat percentage may be a fantastic way to measure an individual’s fitness level since it reflects the individual’s body composition.

BMI, by comparison, doesn’t differentiate between fat and muscle mass.

The way to measure body fat:

The most frequent means of measuring body fat percentage is to utilize a skinfold measurement, which utilizes special calipers to pinch the skin.

The health professional will measure tissue on the torso, stomach, torso (for guys ), or upper arm (for women).

The techniques offer an accurate reading of around 3.5 percent, based on ACE.

Other methods include:

Hydrostatic body fat measuring, or “underwater weighing”

Air densitometry, which measures air displacement

Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA)

Bioelectrical impedance analysis

Not one of these can give a 100-percent accurate reading, but the estimates are close enough to provide a fair assessment.

Many gyms and doctor’s offices have devices for measuring an individual’s body fat percentage.

Takeaway:

Combining them might be the best way to get a precise idea of whether you should consider taking action or not.

Anyone who’s concerned about their weight, waist size, or body makeup should talk to a doctor or nutritionist.

Q:

Does it matter if a man is overweight, as long as they are comfortable and healthy?

A:

It’s important to not forget that there’s a link between being overweight and a higher risk of several chronic diseases, including diabetes, hypertension, and metabolic syndrome.

Also, carrying extra weight may be tough on the skeletal system and joints, and it can lead to fluctuations in motor function and postural control.

This might be because having additional body weight can reduce muscular endurance and strength, distort an individual’s posture, and cause discomfort with normal body movements.

For young people, excess weight throughout the development stages can contribute to unusual motor patterning. This can stay into adulthood.

Ask your friends and loved ones for support.

If you’re feeling anxious or depressed, consider joining a support group or seeking counseling. Believe in your ability to take control of the pain…

Hope you find this article helpful enough to give motivation. Kindly read our more articles and subscribe to us for staying updated on our all-new articles.

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Thanks!!!

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primehealthblog

Team of Writes, Aurthers. Who Loves Writing about Health like Migraines, Headaches

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