When is a BMI calculator used?

Understanding your BMI

Calculating your BMIusing the Body Mass Index calculatoror manually is just the initial step, but knowing that it is the next step. To help you understand it better on the various classifications that your physical condition would be classified into in accordance with your BMI -

• If you have BMI < 18.5 -

Your physical health problem would be classified as underweight in regard to those with the same age, gender and height.

• When your BMI is > 18.5 and < 24.9

Your physical health would be categorized as healthy in relation to the individuals who are the same gender, age, and height as you.

• You're BMI is above 25 but 29.9

Your physical health condition would be classified as an overweight condition when compared to others who are the same age, gender and height.

• If you're BMI exceeds 30

Your health condition could be classified as obese when compared to other people who are of the same age, gender and height. People whose health condition is classified as obese or overweight are generally thought as the most vulnerable to health conditions.

How do you determine the best BMIfor males and women?

Body mass index is the gauge of a person's weight in relation to their height and thus the gender doesn't play a very vital role in determining if you're obese, overweight, or underweight, or a healthy person. To make it easier to understand the concept, here's an example one man and a woman who both have the height of 5'7" at 81kgs and are both overweight will both have their physical status classified as overweight regardless of their gender.

What is the reason why the cost for your insurance higher if weight-related?

Understanding your BMI

Calculating your BMI using the Body Mass Index calculator or manually is only the first step. Understanding that it is the second. To give you more clarity this is the list of categories your physical health condition would be classified into depending on your BMI The categories are:

• If your BMI is less than 18.5 -

Your physical health issues would be classified as being overweight with respect to those who are of similar age, gender, and height as you.

• When your BMI is greater than 18.5 and 24.9

Your physical health condition could be categorized as healthy in respect to others who are the same gender, age, and height as you.

• If your BMI is > 25 but < 29.9

Your health condition could be classified as overweight in comparison to people who are the same gender, age, and height as you.

• If your BMI is higher than 30

Your physical health issue could be classified as obese relative to those who are the same age, gender, and height as you. The people whose physical condition is classified as obese or obese are typically thought to be the most vulnerable to illnesses of the body.

What is the ideal BMI for men and women?

BMI Ranges

Now that you know your BMI then check where you are in your BMI range below:

Your BMI is under 18.5 If your BMI is less than 18.5 - it is considered to be underweight.

The BMI lies within 18.5 and 24.9 - you are classified as being within a healthy weight range.

You're BMI falls in the range of 25.0 and 29.9- you are considered to be overweight.

Your BMI exceeds 30 is considered to be overweight.

My BMI is way too high, what should I do to help me lose weight?

The ideal goal to strive for is to lose 10% per cent in your total body mass. Although that's probably not enough to push you towards a healthy weight is a good place to start for those who are overweight, and research has shown it's enough to provide health benefits, in particular, reducing the risk factors of heart disease. The WW program guides members to concentrate on realistic weight loss goals and provides the necessary skills and techniques to help you to achieve them.

Are BMI more crucial for men or women?

The same BMI measurements are applicable to both genders because the same risk of developing an illness related to weight are applicable to both men and women.

The research has established the link between having more BMI and an increased risk of several diseases, including heart disease as well as type 2 diabetes osteoarthritis, as well as some kinds of cancer including breast cancer.

Is BMI 100% accurate?

This isn't always true for all people. It's hard to tell the difference between fat and muscle and, therefore, those who have massive muscle mass frequently have a high BMI, even although their body fat is within the normal range. Plus, a healthy BMI does not always indicate good health. In fact, research shows that one-third of those with healthy BMIs are considered to be unhealthy when other test results such as blood pressure, glucose levels, and cholesterol , are taken into consideration.

One explanation is that BMI doesn't accurately reflect where your body fat is stored and it's possible to have healthy BMI yet carry excessive fat around your waistline, an area that has a higher health risk than weight across your thighs and hips. A 2017 study proved that point, finding that people who have excess weight around their middle , yet with healthy BMIs have highest risk of death due to any cause, as compared to people who have higher BMIs and carry the extra weight elsewhere.

"If I had to choose between making sure my BMI or my waist-to-hip ratio are within the 'normal' range, I would go for the latter," says the University of Sydney's Associate Professor Emmanuel Stamatakis, who co-led the study. "A high waist-to-hip ratio most likely means high amounts of abdominal fat, and we know this comes with quite serious health risks."

Do I really need to figure out my BMI?

Yes it is, according to Dr. Michelle Celander, WW program and Science Director. "BMI is a quick snapshot of how weight impacts the risk of health problems for people in a particular group and, while it might not be the perfect indicator of risk to medical for every person, it's valuable for providing feedback to you.

"But, while it is a good idea to calculate and know what your BMI is, no one piece of feedback about your weight or health should be viewed in isolation, so it's really important to consider your BMI in context of other information and measurements."

What are the other metrics that matter?

There are two steps you need to consider:

A) Your waist-to-hip ratio:
Your waist measurement is divided (in centimetres) by the measurement of your hips (in centimetres). If your waist-to-hip ratio is greater than 0.9 for men in comparison to 0.85 for women indicates an increased risk to health.

B) Your waist-to-height ratio
Your waist measurement is divided (in centimetres) by your height (in centimetres). Research has shown that keeping your waist circumference at less than half your height or a ratio no bigger than 0.5 is the best option.