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[W717]Who Body Mass Index

by Amy Nutt, Amy

If you have concerns about your health, chances are you've heard or read about body mass index, or BMI. Up until the 1980's, body mass index wasn't the standard used to determine healthy weights. Before BMI, simple tables were used --one for men and one for women-- to calculate weight per inch of height. But since BMI was introduced and used regularly, starting in the 1980's and gaining in popularity in the 1990's (when the vast problem of obesity came more into the public eye), we've had a more accurate way to test for obesity and healthy weights.

What, exactly, is body mass index? Like its forerunner, the height and weight table, body mass index uses height and weight to measure for obesity. What makes BMI different, though, is that it is standardized and very simple to use and understand. There's only one calculation to make, which is the same for both men and women. As long as you are an adult over twenty years old, BMI is always calculated in the same way.

Whether you're located in the US or England or in a country that uses the metric system, BMI is generally calculated using metric measurements. That is, it's a person's weight in kilograms divided by their weight (squared) in meters. To calculate an adult BMI using the Imperial (English or American) system, follow the following formula:

Â• Multiply your weight in pounds by 703.

Â• Divide that number by your height in inches, squared. (To square your height in inches, simply multiply that number by itself. So if you're 5'5", that's 65 inches. Your height squared (65 x 65) is 4225.)

Â• Round the first decimal point up if needed, and you have your BMI.

Or, even easier, simply use one of the countless BMI calculators available for free on the web.

So you have your BMI number. How do you know if your BMI says you're obese? Do you think you need to start a healthy weight loss? There are a lot of resources on the web that will tell you, but we'll put that information here, too, just in case.

Underweight - BMI of under 18.5
Normal - BMI of 18.5 to 25
Overweight - BMI of 25 to 30
Obese - BMI of 30 to 40
Morbidly Obese - BMI of greater than 40

As you can see, BMI is a simple and generally accepted way to calculate the health level of your current healthy weight. It's important to note, though, that BMI is not foolproof, and there are some factors that may skew or change the results. Women, for instance, will generally have a higher quantity of body fat at the same BMI as a man. And highly trained athletes may have a misleadingly high BMI due to a large amount of muscle mass.

BMI is only one of many factors used to predict risk for disease. BMI cannot be used to tell a person if he/she has a disease such as diabetes or cancer. So, what do you do if your BMI is high? Talk to your parents, your doctor, or an adult you trust. Don't be alarmed if your BMI is over 25; just view this as a warning to get in shape to continue to live your life in the healthiest possible fashion.

BMI is used in determining obesity. BMI is a leader in imaging informatics - creating tools, algorithms and technologies to share and analyze biomedical image data. One emphasis is on algorithm development for clinical image analysis and automated classification of different cancers. A healthy BMI is between 18.5 and 24.9. A result below 18.5 indicates that you may be underweight; a figure above 24.9 indicates that you may be overweight.

BMI overestimates body fat in persons who are very muscular and it can underestimate body fat in persons who have lost muscle mass (e.g., many elderly). People with more muscular builds may be classified as overweight according to BMI numbers even if they have a very healthy body fat percentage. A person is defined as overweight if his or her BMI is between 25.0 and 29.9 and obese if their BMI is greater than 30.0. It is important to calculate your BMI now and consult with your doctor if your BMI is over 25. The BMI is a rough estimate of body fat.

The BMI is used by doctors to assess patients that are overweight or obese. It does a very good job of describing relative weight for any given height and measures your overall total body fat content. BMI is recommended as a practical approach for the clinical setting. BMI provides an acceptable approximation for assessment of total body fat for the majority of patients. Your son's Body Mass Index is then plotted on a chart based on his gender and age. Body composition varies during childhood, so a comparative chart provides a baseline without the need to create different charts for every age group throughout childhood.

We measured dietary nutrient intakes and assessed inflammation by measurement of serum C-reactive protein levels. But there is two demographics were the BMI is flat wrong. A low BMI is indicative of malnutrition, which may be observed in anorexia nervosa or cancer. A BMI above 25 is

correlated with higher risk for chronic diseases such as diabetes, heart disease and high blood pressure. BMI is

determined by dividing a person's weight in kilograms by a person's height in meters squared. We measured dietary nutrient intakes and assessed inflammation by measurement of serum C-reactive protein levels. But there is two demographics were the BMI is flat wrong. A low BMI is indicative of malnutrition, which may be observed in anorexia nervosa or cancer. A BMI above 25 is

correlated with higher risk for chronic diseases such as diabetes, heart disease and high blood pressure. BMI is

determined by dividing a person's weight in kilograms by a person's height in meters squared. BMI is calculated by comparing the measurements of your weight and height. Use the BMI calculator to determine if your bodyweight falls into an appropriate range in relation to your height.

If a woman's BMI is 30 or greater, she is considered obese. A BMI of 40 or more puts her in the severely obese category. The BMI is a single number that can be used to determine whether a person's build and his or her associated risk of disease are normal or elevated. The "normal" or "ideal" category defines the group with the lowest mortality rate. The biggest criticism of BMI is this: It fails to distinguish between muscle and fat. What's more, it doesn't measure body fat.

The results indicate that higher BMI is associated with more severe form of depression. On the other hand, the more severe form of depression may result in less weight gain. But if BMI is outdated and inaccurate, what else might be used in its place? Tim Cole, a professor of medical statistics at the Institute of Child Health at Great Ormond Street Hospital, says that "body mass index is a cheap and cheerful way of measuring fatness but is not terribly good in detail". BMI is praying for funds to develop the technology to provide these materials as well as to enlist personnel to deliver the message around the world.

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Both Amy Nutt & Vernon DeFlanders are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.

Amy Nutt has sinced written about articles on various topics from Culture and Society, Recreation and Sports and Women. Toronto Centre offers a safe, simple, and sustainable solution to maintain your ideal weight. The LaparoscopicBAND, along with TLBC's care program, can help end yo. Amy Nutt's top article generates over 368000 views. to your Favourites.

Vernon DeFlanders has sinced written about articles on various topics from Fitness, Body Mass Index and Culture and Society. About the Author: Vernon De Flanders, Webmaster of 4BodyControl.com. Where Free information about Weight Loss, Body Fat, Diets, Skin Care, Healthy Eating, Exercises, and more! At. Vernon DeFlanders's top article generates over 22200 views. to your Favourites.