Body
Mass Index Calculator
The
Body Mass Index is a poor measurement and a controversially inaccurate
indicator to assess health. An
ideal BMI (which the measurement considers to be healthy) is between
20.5 and 21.5. However,
it makes absolutely no distinction between body weight from muscle
and body weight from fat which labels a broad segment of the athletic
and similar healthy populations as overweight and obese. It is
limited in its ability to predict deaths caused by heart attacks
or strokes (yet it's still used by Physicians). High BMIs (35
and over) are linked to increased risk of cardiovascular events
but not to increased mortality overall. BMIs less than 20 are
linked to increased risk of cardiovascular events AND to total
mortality.
<< Try a more accurate measurment and determinant
of health by calculating your Body
Composition >> |
To
calculate your own Body Mass Index, enter your height (in feet
and inches) and weight (in pounds) in the spaces below. Then click
where it says "Calculate BMI"
A following table describes the health-risk
significance of the BMI:
Men |
Women |
Risk
Factor |
| <20.7 |
<19.1 |
Underweight.
The lower the BMI the greater the risk
|
20.7
to 26.4
|
19.1
to 25.8 |
Normal,
very low risk |
26.4
to 27.8
|
25.8
to 27.3 |
Marginally
overweight, some risk |
27.8
to 31.1
|
27.3
to 32.2 |
Overweight.
moderate risk |
31.1
to 45.4
|
32.3
to 44.8 |
Severe
overweight, high risk |
>45.4
|
>44.8 |
Morbid
obesity, very high risk |
More
information on ideal body weight guidelines
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