When is a BMI calculator used?

Understanding your BMI

Calculating your BMIusing the Body Mass Index calculatoror manually is just the beginning, but understanding that it is the next step. For more clarity on the various categories your physical health condition will be classified under according to your BMI -

• When your BMI is less than 18.5 -

Your health condition could be classified as being underweight in comparison to other people with the same gender, age and height.

• When your BMI is greater than 18.5 and < 24.9

Your physical health status would be classified as being healthy in comparison to other people with the same gender, age and height.

• When your BMI is greater than 25 but is 29.9

Your health condition could be classified as being overweight relative to other people with the same gender, age and height.

• When your BMI is greater than 30

Your health condition could be classified as overweight when compared to other people with the same gender, age and height as you. People whose health condition is classified as overweight or obese are usually thought to be most susceptible to developing health problems.

Which is your ideal BMIfor males and women?

The body mass index (BMI) is an measure of one's weight relative to their height , and therefore gender doesn't play an important role in determining if you're overweight, underweight or a healthy person. To make it easier to understand this concept, here's an example of a man and woman with 5'7" height" with a weight of 81 pounds will each have a physical condition classified as overweight, regardless of their gender.

What is the reason why the cost for your insurance policy more expensive if you're overweight?

Understanding your BMI

Calculating your BMI using the Body Mass Index calculator or by hand is just the first step. Understanding it is the next step. For more clarity Here are the categories your physical health condition will be classified into according to your BMI --

• When your BMI is less than 18.5 -

Your health condition could be classified as being underweight relative to other people with the same gender, age and height.

• When your BMI is greater than 18.5 and < 24.9

Your physical health status would be classified as being healthy in comparison to other people with the same gender, age and height.

• When your BMI is greater than 25 but is 29.9

Your health condition could be classified as being overweight relative to other people with the same gender, age and height.

• When your BMI is greater than 30

Your health condition could be classified as overweight when compared to other people with the same gender, age and height as you. People whose health condition is classified as overweight or obese are usually thought to be most susceptible to developing health problems.

What is the optimal BMI for men and women?

BMI Ranges

Once you have figured out your BMI and where you are in your BMI interval below.

The BMI is less than 18.5 and you're considered to be overweight.

The BMI ranges somewhere between 18.5 to 24.9 - you are classified as being within a normal weight bracket.

The HTML0 value of your BMI ranges somewhere between 25.0 to 29.9- you are classified as being overweight.

Your BMI is greater than 30 You are thought to be overweight.

My BMI is high, what can I do to shed weight?

The ideal goal to set is losing 10% per cent from your weight. If that's not enough to propel you to a healthy weight It's a good starting point if you're overweight and research has shown it's enough to provide health benefits, such as reducing risk factors for type 2 diabetes and heart disease. The WW program helps members to set realistic weight loss goals , and offers the tools and strategies to help reach them.

Are BMI more crucial for men or women?

The identical BMI measurements are applicable to both genders , as the same risk of developing a weight-related disease are applicable to both men and women.

Researchers have discovered a link between having an increased BMI and a higher chance of developing a variety of illnesses, such as heart disease and type 2 diabetes osteoarthritis, and some types of cancer , including breast cancer.

Is BMI 100 percent exact?

It's not always the case for everyone. It's not able to distinguish between muscle and fat and therefore, people with an enormous muscle mass typically have a high BMI, even when their body fat levels are within the normal range. Additionally, a healthy BMI does not always indicate healthy health. Research shows that one-third of those with healthy BMIs are considered to be unhealthy when other tests, like blood sugar, blood pressure, and cholesterol , are considered.

One reason is that BMI does not reflect where the body's fat stores are, and it is possible to have an ideal BMI and still carry excess fat around your waistline, which is more at risk of risk to health than weight that is carried around your thighs and hips. A study from 2017 proved this fact, revealing that those who are overweight around their midsection but possess healthy BMIs, are in the most risk of dying due to any cause, as compared to those who have higher BMIs and carry the excess weight elsewhere.

"If I had to choose between making sure my BMI or my waist-to-hip ratio are within the 'normal' range, I would go for the latter," says the University of Sydney's Associate Professor Emmanuel Stamatakis, who co-led the study. "A high waist-to-hip ratio most likely means high amounts of abdominal fat, and we know this comes with quite serious health risks."

Do I need to calculate my BMI?

Yes it is, according to Dr. Michelle Celander, WW program and Director of Science. "BMI gives a glimpse of how weight impacts the likelihood of developing medical issues for a group of people and, while it might not be the most accurate measure of the risk to health for each person, it's useful as a feedback tool for you.

"But, while it is a good idea to calculate and know what your BMI is, no one piece of feedback about your weight or health should be viewed in isolation, so it's really important to consider your BMI in context of other information and measurements."

What are the other metrics that matter?

Two steps you must consider:

A) Your waist-to-hip ratio:
Your waist measurement is divided (in centimetres) by the measurement of your hips (in centimetres). A waist-to-hip ratio greater than 0.9 for males or 0.85 for women suggests an increased risk of health.

B) Your waist-to-height ratio:
Your waist measurement is divided (in centimetres) by your height (in centimetres). To maintain your health, research suggests that you should keep your waist circumference at less than half of your height - or a ratio that is not more than 0.5 is a good idea.