Body Mass Index

A good way to decide if your weight is healthy for your height is to figure out your body mass index (BMI). You and your health care provider can use your BMI to estimate how much body fat you have.

You and your health care provider can use your BMI to estimate how much body fat you have.

BEING OBESE PUTS STRAIN ON YOUR HEART AND CAN LEAD TO SERIOUS HEALTH PROBLEMS, INCLUDING

• Heart disease
• High Blood Pressure (Hypertension)
• Sleep apnea
• Type 2 Diabetes
• Varicose veins

How to determine your BMI

Your BMI estimates how much you should weigh based on your height.

There are many websites with calculators that give your BMI when you enter your weight and height.

YOU CAN ALSO CALCULATE IT YOURSELF

• Multiply your weight in pounds by 703.
• Divide that answer by your height in inches.
• Divide that answer by your height in inches again.

For example, a woman who weighs 270 pounds and is 68 inches tall has a BMI of 41.0.

Use the chart below to see what category your BMI falls into, and whether you need to be concerned about your weight.

BMI is not always the best way to decide whether you need to lose weight.

If you have more or less muscle than is normal, your BMI may not be a perfect measure of how much body fat you have if you are:

BODY BUILDERS

Because muscle weighs more than fat, people who are very muscular may have a high BMI.

ELDERLY

In the elderly it is often better to have a BMI between 25 and 27, rather than under 25. If you are older than 65, for example, a slightly higher BMI may help protect you from thinning of the bones (osteoporosis).

CHILDREN

While many children are obese, do not use this BMI calculator for evaluating a child. Talk to your child’s health care provider about the appropriate weight for your child’s age.

Providers use a few methods to decide whether you are overweight. Your provider may also take your waist circumference and waist-to-hip ratio into consideration.

Your BMI alone cannot predict your health risk, but most experts say that a BMI greater than 30 (obesity) is unhealthy. No matter what your BMI is, exercise can help reduce your risk of heart disease and diabetes. Remember to always talk to your provider before starting an exercise program.