When is a BMI calculator used?

Understanding your BMI

Calculating your BMIusing the Body Mass Index calculatoror manually is just the first step, understanding it is the next. To make it easier for you to understand this is the list of categories that your physical health condition would be classified into depending on your BMI -

• If your BMI < 18.5 -

Your physical health issue would be classified as being underweight in comparison to other people that are the same gender, age and height.

• Your BMI is more than 18.5 and < 24.9

Your physical health condition could be classified as healthy in relation to the individuals who are of the same gender, age, and height as you.

• If your BMI is greater than 25 but is 29.9

Your health condition could be classified as an overweight condition relative to other people with the same gender, age, and height as you.

• If your BMI exceeds 30

Your physical condition will be classified as being obese when compared to other people with the same gender, age and height. People whose health condition is classified as being overweight or obese are generally considered to be more susceptible to health issues.

Is there a standard BMIfor both men and women?

The body mass index (BMI) is the measurement of weight in relation to height , and therefore gender doesn't play an essential role in determining whether you're overweight, underweight or a healthy individual. To help you better understand how to determine this, let us look at an example of a man and woman with 5'7'' height" and weigh around 81kgs both have a physical issue classified as overweight irrespective of gender.

Why is the cost in your health insurance more expensive if your weight is low?

Understanding your BMI

Calculating your BMI using the Body Mass Index calculator or manually is only one step, understanding it is the next step. To give you more clarity this is the list of categories that your physical medical condition can be classified into according to your BMI and BMI.

• In case your BMI < 18.5 -

Your physical health condition would be classified as being underweight in relation to the individuals that are the same gender, age, and height as you.

• You have HTML0 if your BMI is > 18.5 and < 24.9

Your physical health condition would be classified as healthy in relation to the individuals that are the same gender, age and height.

• When your BMI is > 25 but < 29.9

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

• If you're BMI is higher than 30

Your physical health condition would be classified as obese with respect to people with the same age, gender, and height as you. People whose health condition is classified as being overweight or obese are usually thought to be the most vulnerable to health diseases.

What is the ideal BMI for men and women?

BMI Ranges

Once you have figured out your BMI Check where you sit in your BMI of the range listed below.

It is when your BMI is under 18.5 and you're thought to be in the category of being overweight.

It is a sign that your BMI lies within 18.5 between 18.5 and 24.9 - you are considered to be within a healthier weight class.

You're BMI is anywhere between 25.0 to 29.9- you are classed as overweight.

Your BMI is higher than 30 You are thought to be obese.

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

An ideal starting point you can set is to lose 10% per cent or more of the body's weight. Even if that's not enough to get you into a healthy weight range it's a great place to start when you're overweight, according to research that shows it's enough to have health benefits such as reducing risk factors for type 2 diabetes and heart disease. The WW program encourages participants to focus on realistic weight-loss goals and provides the necessary skills and strategies to help achieve them.

Is BMI more vital for men or for women?

The identical BMI measurements are applicable to both genders , as the same risk of developing obesity-related illnesses apply to both males and females.

Research has made the connection between having more BMI and an increased risk of several ailments, including heart disease such as type 2 diabetes osteoarthritis and certain types of cancer including breast cancer.

Is BMI 100 percent precise?

It's not necessarily accurate for all people. It doesn't distinguish between muscle and fat which is why people who have massive muscle mass usually have a high BMI even when their body fat levels are within the normal range. In addition, a balanced BMI doesn't always correlate with good health. Actually, research has shown that three out of three who have healthy BMIs are quite unhealthy once other test results including blood pressureand blood glucose and cholesterol are taken into account.

One reason could be that BMI doesn't reflect where the body's fats are stored, and it's entirely possible to have healthy BMI however, carrying too much fat around your waist, a location that presents a greater danger to your health than weight across your thighs and hips. A 2017 study confirmed that conclusion, showing that those who carry excess weight around their middle and possess healthy BMIs, are in the most risk of dying due to any cause compared to those with higher BMIs , who carry the burden 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 have to bother with calculating my BMI?

Yes, says Dr Michelle Celander, WW program and Director of Science. "BMI gives an overview of the way weight affects the likelihood of developing medical issues for a group of people however it may not be a perfect measure of risk of illness 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 do:

A) Your waist-to-hip ratio
Your waist measurement is divided (in centimetres) by your hip measurement (in centimetres). A ratio between your waist and hips of more than 0.9 for males in comparison to 0.85 for women suggests an increased risk of health.

B) Your waist-to-height ratio:
Measure your waist circumference (in centimetres) by your height (in centimetres). Research indicates that keeping your waist circumference at less than half of your height - or a ratio no bigger than 0.5 it is recommended.