The Body Mass Index is measuring one’s body composition based on one’s height and weight. It takes into consideration one’s weight and height to come up with results that indicate whether a person is underweight, normal or obese. Calculating the BMI requires one to get his or her height in either meters or inches and his or her weight in either meters or inches and his or her weight either in kilograms or pounds. If the weight has been take in pounds, then the height should be gauged using inches. To get the right BMI when the weight has been take using kilograms, then one should take their height in meters.
BMI Formula
Calculating BMI is easy. If one is using imperial formula, that is pounds and inches, all he or she has to do is multiply the weight in pounds by 703 and divide by the height squared in inches.
BMI = (weight in pounds *703)
(height2)
However, if one is calculating using the metric system. Then he or she need not multiply the weight by 703. Hence, the formula will be as follows:
BMI = (weight in Kgs)
(Height in Meters)
People with a body mass index measuring less than 18.5 are underweight. Additionally, those within the 18.5 to 24.9 are within the normal weight range, while those who are between 25 and 29.9 on the BMI are overweight. A body mass index measuring more than 30 indicates that the person is obese. It is recommended that people stay within the normal range as being either underweight or overweight may result in ill health. People who find the calculation too taxing can opt for the several Body mass index calculating methods offered on the internet. For accurate BMI taking however, one will need to input the accurate weight and height measurements. In most cases, the website will indicate what type of measurements it requires the user to input in the BMI calculator.
BMI limitations
While some people claim that BMI differs between women and men, most resources on the subject indicate that it should not be used by anyone under the age of 18 or pregnant women. Some limitations of the BMI include the fact that it is easy to overestimate the body fat of people with muscular bodies or underestimate the same on people who have lost muscles as happens with old age. One thing however remains clear, that the higher the BMI, the higher health risks one has.
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