Understanding Your Body Mass Index

Sachin Kumar
Dec 21, 2021 3 min read

BMI is a size calculation that considers your height and weight. It displays your height and weight relationship as a single number that is unaffected by frame size. Despite the fact that BMI has been around for almost 200 years, it is still regarded as a new health statistic.

A normal BMI is between 18.0 and 26, with a BMI between 26 and 30 suggesting overweight and a BMI of 30 or above indicating obesity. If a person's BMI is less than 18.5, they are termed underweight. BMI,  like the majority of other health-related measures, is far from perfect. So, what exactly does BMI mean? Diabetes, arthritis, liver disease, a variety of cancers (including breast, colon, and prostate cancer), high blood pressure (hypertension), and high cholesterol are all more common as your BMI increases.

Calculation of BMI:

BMI is calculated by adding a person's height and weight together.

Use the following formula to calculate BMI in metric units: BMI = kilograms per square meter

To calculate an adult's BMI, follow these steps: Add their height in meters to their weight in kilograms (kg).

Because most people measure their height in centimeters (cm), multiply your centimeter height by 100 to calculate your meter height.

Understanding the outcomes:

A body mass index (BMI) of less than 18.0 is considered healthy.

If your BMI is less than 18.0, you are underweight and may need to gain weight.

BMI range: 18.0–25.0

You are a healthy weight for your height, with a BMI of 18.0-25.0. Maintaining a healthy weight lowers your chances of developing significant health issues.

BMI range: 25-30.0

You are somewhat overweight if your body mass index (BMI) is between 25 and 30.0. You may be recommended to lose weight for health reasons.

BMI more than 30

If your body mass index (BMI) is 30 or more, you are significantly overweight. If you do not lose weight, your health may suffer.

Should we stop putting so much "weight" on BMI?

BMI is not meant to represent cardiovascular health or illness as a single metric, any more than cholesterol, blood sugar, or blood pressure is supposed to signal cardiovascular health or sickness as a single measure. Additionally, while cardiovascular health is essential, it is not the primary indicator of overall health!

Currently, the bulk of BMI classifications of overweight and obesity are based on white people. However, physical composition, such as % body fat or muscle mass, might differ by race and ethnic group. As a result, while BMI can help predict health among white people, it may be less accurate in other racial and cultural groups.

Why is your weight range significant?

Obesity is related to the following health issues:

Stroke caused by type 2 diabetes

coronary heart disease

Some malignancies cause reproductive problems in women.

blood pressure is too high

Fatty liver disease and osteoarthritis

kidney disorder

 The following health issues are connected with a BMI in the underweight range:

Immune system deficiency

Osteoporosis

Anemia

Women's reproductive problems

Palpitations

Conclusion:

As a single metric, BMI is certainly not a perfect predictor of health. 

It is, nevertheless, a good beginning point for critical diseases that are more frequent in overweight or obese persons. Knowing your BMI is, in my view, an excellent thing. It is important, however, to know its limitations The body mass index (BMI) can be used to check for various health problems. 

However, it should be used with caution because it does not account for other characteristics such as exercise level and body composition. It is essential to include a child's or adolescent's age and gender when determining their BMI since their bodies are continuously changing as they grow.