Studies have shown that your BMI fairly accurately indicates your body fat percentage. Other studies show there is a strong linear relationship between your BMI and your chance of getting diseases such as diabetes, CVD (Cardio Vascular Disease), and certain types of cancer. Therefore groups like the World Health Organization have established four groupings of BMI with their associated levels of health risks. Thus BMI has been used consistently throughout the world to determine your health risk.

How to Calculate BMI?

If you use Metric units then

BMI = (weight in kgs) / (height in meters)2

For English units use:

BMI = (weight in pounds) * 703 / (height in inches)2

If you want to use an online Adult BMI Calculator

MyDietForWeightLoss.comAdult-BMI-Calculator

What BMI Category are you in?

To determine your risk level you must first determine what category you fall into based on the following.

BMI Range Category

0.0 - 18.5 Underweight

18.5 - 24.9 Normal

25.0 - 29.9 Overweight

30.0 - 39.9 Obese

40.0 - + Morbidly Obese

Do you have a BMI that is 25.0 or greater? If you do then you are one of the over one billion people in the world that is considered overweight. If your BMI is 30.0 or over then you are one of over 300 million people that are considered obese.

How does excess fat affect your health risk?

Being overweight or obese can cause adverse metabolic effects on your blood pressure, your cholesterol level, your triglyceride level, and insulin resistance. Being obese can cause nonfatal problems such as infertility, skin problems, chronic musculoskeletal problems, and respiratory difficulties. Being overweight carries a higher risk for CVD, Type 2 Diabetes, gallbladder disease, and some types of cancer such as ones related to hormones.

You do not need to be overweight for you level of fat to effect your health risk. A study reported in 2002 from the World Health Organization indicated approximately 58% of diabetes and 21% of ischaemic heart disease and 8-42% of certain cancers globally were attributable to a BMI above 21.

The problems with BMI

BMI (Body Mass Index) is not accurate in all individuals.

* BMI's for persons over 7 feet tall are not as accurate

* Are not accurate for some people that are very muscular

* The interpretation of BMI to health risks for those under 20 years old is different. If you are under 20 use the Child Teen BMI Calculator at MyDietForWeightLoss.comChild-Teen-BMI-Calculator

What to do if you are overweight?

Many diet plans can help you lose weight at least initially but few work over an extended period. Most reasons for this are the plans are too restrictive; too boring; lead to starvation mode; binging; is not customized to what you like; and is not customized to what works for your body in your current situation. So when you are looking for the perfect diet make sure it not only instructs you on what to eat but also explains: starvation mode; why most diets don't work long term; how your body decides on what to do with fat in your bloodstream; how to determine how different foods affect your body; how to customize the perfect diet plan for you; how you can set realistic goals; how to motivate you to follow your plan.