Preston Meadow's Height Enhancement Blog

Calculate your BMI: The Basics of Body Mass Index and how the figure of its own

Your body mass index (BMI) is a quick way to find out if your weight is on track for their height.

Your body mass index is simple to calculate, but should be used as a guide to only healthy weight. Because muscle weighs more than fat, weight and BMI is not the only determining their level of health.

The index formula body mass

To calculate your BMI, simply complete the following steps. All you need is yourself, the correct height, scale and a calculator.

First, weigh yourself. If you normally weigh once during the day at a specific time will make things a little differently this time. It needs to be weighed in the morning before to eat or drink (because food and fluids can affect your body weight.) Weigh yourself three times and then take an average of the weights to get an exact figure.

Next, you need to convert your height in inches squared, and of that figure. For example, if you are 5'5 "height in inches would be 65 inches. Plaza of that number (65×65) and then dividing the weight in pounds by that figure. If you are 5 feet, 5 inches tall and weigh 165 pounds, his number would be 0.03905 ending.

The next step is to take that number and multiply by 703 (see why you need a calculator!) This step will convert the pounds and inches in the metric system decimal. In our example, .03905 multiplied by 703 is 27.45. This figure is your BMI and it belongs to one of four categories: underweight range, normal, overweight or obese. Underweight is 18.5 and below 18.5 to 24.9 is normal, 25.0 and 29.9 is overweight and 30 or more is obese.

BMI for children and adolescents

All adults over age 20 can use the BMI above ranges. BMI for children and youth are calculated in the same way it is for adults, but the values not classified in the same way. Instead of cards with clearly defined values for overweight and underweight children compared to other children their same age and sex.

If the BMI for age is less than the 5th percentile the child is underweight; If the BMI for age is between 85 and 95 percentile, the child is at risk of being overweight, If the BMI for age is in the 95th percentile, the child is classified as overweight.

Here is a BMI calculator for children and adolescents determine both the IMC and the child's percentile of BMI (http://pediatrics.about.com/cs/usefultools/l/bl_bmi_calc.htm).

Note that an index body mass is only a screening tool used by doctors and health professionals to categorize your weight. There may be other factors that contribute to high or low numbers that have nothing to do with his weight, as a chronic illness that produces an underweight BMI or portions of the muscle mass that occurs a high body mass index.

Once you determine your BMI, you should check with your doctor if you are outside the normal range. Your doctor can provide solutions to help you gain or lose weight when necessary. You should not undergo any further weight loss program or weight gain without first talking to your doctor, who can provide additional testing and nutritional counseling to help you achieve your goals.

About the Author

Jamie Jefferson writes for Momscape.com, where you will find an easy BMI calculator as well as online coupons for her favorite weight loss program.

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