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A popular tool currently used by health professionals to screen individuals
for their degree of obesity is the body mass index calculator. It is based
upon a relationship between weight and height, excluding frame size and
muscle mass.
Body mass index values
between 18.5 and 24.9 are considered “normal” or“ healthy”. BMI values
between 25 and 29.9 are considered “overweight” and 30 and above are
considered“ obese.” A body mass index of 25 or above are considered
unhealthy and statistics have been shown to increase the risk of certain
chronic diseases. A BMI under 18.5 are considered “underweight.”
The body mass index tool is generally related to body fat. Higher BMI's usually mean higher body
fat. As body fat or BMI increases, especially from values equal to or
greater than 30, health risks also increase. Being overweight (Body mass
index of 25 to
30) or being obese (BMI greater than 30) increases the risk of having high
blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, diabetes, certain types of cancer,
arthritis, and breathing problems. Research shows that being obese lowers one’s life expectancy. When overweight or obese people
lose weight, they also lower their blood pressure, total cholesterol, LDL (or
“bad”) cholesterol, increase their HDL (or “good”) cholesterol, improve their
blood sugar levels, and reduce their amount of abdominal fat.
For most people, the body
mass index calculator provides a good measurement tool to determine obesity. However, BMI does
not provide actual information on body composition (i.e. the proportions of
muscle, bone, fat, and other tissues that make up a person’s total body
weight), and may not be the most appropriate indicator to determine health
status for certain groups of men and women.
For example, athletes with dense bones and well developed muscles or people with large body frames may
be obese by body mass index standards (i.e. they have BMIs greater than 30), yet
they have very little
body fat. On the other hand, inactive people may seem to have acceptable
weights when, in fact, they may have too much body fat. Similarly, a petite
gymnast may be considered underweight but not unhealthy. A body mass index
tool, when
used for children and adolescents who are still growing, petite and highly muscular
individuals, pregnant women, and people with large body frames should be
evaluated by a professional.
Check your
body mass index by using the BMI calculator below.
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