The BMI - Overweight or Obese? 

Overweight and Obese are two separate terms, and Body Mass Index (BMI) differentiates them. A more accurate picture of the body’s composition can be obtained through BMI which is a measure of person’s – weight to height ratio.

1. For Weight in kilograms and Height in meters –

                      Weight
   BMI =    -----------------------
               (Height) x (Height)
       
2. For Weight in pounds and height in inches –

                  Weight x 703
   BMI =    -----------------------
               (Height) x (Height)
      

People with a BMI of 25 to 29.9 are considered overweight and people with a BMI of 30 or greater are considered obese. BMI acts as a health risk indicator, and states that, adults with a BMI of 25 or above face risks of disability and premature death.

BMI Chart can tell you whether you are fat for your height.

Obesity Health Risks 

The below mentioned health problems are faced by persons who have a BMI of 25 and above –

Angina pectoris, loss of bladder control, cancer (including breast, colon, endometrial and prostate), congestive heart failure and coronary heart disease, gall stones, intolerance to glucose, gout, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, hyperinsulinemia, irregular ovulation, infertility and menstrual irregularities, osteoarthritis, complications in pregnancy, eating disorders; lowered self esteem, depression and other psychological disorders; respiratory problems, sleep apnea, stroke, type 2 diabetes.

These conditions can be inconvenient or life threatening. But many of us take things lightly and instead of reducing the risk of these problems by controlling weight, we seek temporary relief by taking medicines, prescribed by a doctor.

What is BMI?




Several people in today’s world are becoming more aware about their bodies, as well as their levels of fitness. However, there are several factors that may include your ideal weight range, such as your height, weight, age, gender, and so on. Therefore, in order to gauge if the fat content in your body is within the appropriate range or not, it is best for you to identify what your BMI or your Body Mass Index is.


Hence, you can use a BMI calculator, which will take your height and weight into account; the number that you get will roughly correlate to the percentage of your body weight that comes from fat, as compared to organs, bones and muscles. Once you get that number or you know what your BMI Index is, you will need to refer to a BMI chart, to gauge if you are within the healthy range or not.

Most people believe that a BMI calculator for a male should differ from a BMI calculator for females.


Moreover, a BMI chart for women should have different values, as compared to a BMI chart for men. However, the way in which BMI is calculated for people of both the genders is the same. The mathematical BMI formula takes only your height and weight into account, not your gender.


There are several people who often wonder “what is my BMI” and some may even visit dieticians and fitness centers, just to know what the correct BMI formula is. However, it is not necessary for you to calculate BMI on your own. There are several online resources that have a free BMI calculator, as well as the BMI chart. However, for people who do not have access to such online, resources, knowing how to calculate BMI may be the best option.

How to calculate BMI?

The BMI formula is equal to a person’s weight (in kilos), divided by the height (in square meters). Another formula can be used in case you know your weight in pounds and your height in inches. The formula that you will need to use in that case is weight in pounds, multiplied by the number 703 divided by the height (in inches).

BMI chart

In case your BMI index reading is below the figure 18.5, it means that you are below your normal weight range. In case your BMI reading falls anywhere between 18.5 and 24.9 then you are within the weight range that is regarded as being healthy or ideal. However, in case your BMI reading is between 25 & 29.9, then you are overweight and if the reading is 30 or more, it means that you are obese and need to lose weight as quickly as possible.

Health experts admit that while BMI is one of the most common ways of checking if a person is within the healthy weight bracket, it is definitely not the best. This is because body types and medical conditions cannot be taken into account. Hence, a heavily muscled person will probably have the same BMI as an overweight person, if the heights and weights are similar. Therefore, BMI should only be used as a guideline to check you are in your normal weight range or not.