-Body Mass Index Formula… what the heck is that?
My best friend Amy seemed to think it would be a good idea to find out what our bmi's were.
She didn't realize that I didn't even know what a bmi formula was, let alone what it meant. (skip ahead to BMI Chart.) -Allow me to explain....
Amy's sort of a health nut
-She's always coming up with some little tidbit about what we should do to achieve our healthiest weight, and what a women's ideal weight really should be.
Like I said, Amy is my best friend, and when it comes to a person's ideal weight, the fact that she could probably be a model tends to make me listen to her all the more.
That, and the fact of the matter is, my family's never been all that healthy to begin with.
-Alzheimer's, Breast cancer, Diabetes, they've all been in my family. Maintaining that ideal weight is the least of our problems.
-Not so, according to Amy ... it's probably the cause of at least some, if not all, of my family's health problems. (see obesity dangers )
That's where the Body Mass Index Formula Chart comes in.
The Body Mass Index Definition: -It's the relationship between your height and weight that's associated with body fat and your health risk.
The index value is then used to assess overweight and underweight. (See Body mass index chart and formula below)
-Though it does not measure the actual percentage of your body fat, the body mass index chart, (or Bmi formula, Bmi chart), can be an extremely useful tool, and a helpful addition to any weight loss system.
-The Body Mass Index Formula does not distinguish between body fat and muscle or bone mass, so this must be taken into consideration when calculating bmi values for the elderly, or for an athlete. -An athletes muscle mass will make their bmi formula reading much higher, because muscle is heavier than fat. A professional football players number on a Bmi Chart would be way up there. -But most of us who do have a higher reading with the Bmi formula (unfortunately), also know that it's not the result of excess muscle mass, and reducing it (by losing weight) is a real good idea. -Conversely, the lost muscle and bone mass of many elderly people can put their Bmi Formula reading in a lower range. They could in fact actually be overweight, but for an active healthy adult over the age of 65, the slight increase in body fat of a Bmi Chart reading of 25-27, may actually help to stave off osteoporosis. -Weight gain and body mass have long been known to be risk factors for breast cancer, heart disease, diabetes and most other diseases as well. -The body mass index formula chart can also help you estimate your ideal weight as well. -We all need all the help we can get, and with the body mass index formula and the bmi chart, we have a starting point and something to strive for. |
The Body Mass Index Formula (Bmi formula)
The body mass index formula is used to find a person's healthy weight. Your height and weight are calculated together, to estimate your body fat.
-To calculate your BMI:
1. - Multiply your weight in pounds, by 703.
2. - Divide that number, by your height in inches.
3. - Divide the result, by your height in inches again.
-Example: Using the Bmi formula let's determine the body mass index for "Jennifer," a woman 5 foot-4 "( 64 inches) tall, who weighs 150 pounds:
1. - (Jen's weight) 150 x 703 = 105,450
2. - 105,450 divided by (Jen's height) 64 inches = 1647.65
3. - 1647.65 divided by 64 again = 25.74 (Jen's body mass index formula number.)
Your Body Mass Index reading should be under 25
-A bmi formula number under 17.5 usually indicates Anorexia or a related eating disorder.
-For an average size healthy person, using the body mass index formula you should obtain a reading of between 18.5 and 24.9 . Around the 24 bmi mark would be a healthy weight, but anything below the 25 mark is good.
-A person with a bmi formula number over 25 but under 30 , is overweight.
-A bmi formula reading of more than 30 indicates obesity.
-Over 40 bmi indicates morbid obesity.
See Frankie's story about the risks of obesity.
-Jen is actually only 6 pounds above her 25 Bmi Formula limit, and would be at her ideal weight between around 109 - 144 lbs, depending on her size and build.
-If Jen were a small framed gal, 109 - 119 pounds would be about right, if she had a medium frame, 119 - 135 pounds, and if she were a larger woman, a range of 135 - 144 pounds would be fine. (I hope this is her, with a bmi formula reading of 25.6, she won't need to lose very much)
Unfortunately, most women have their own ingrained beliefs about what a woman's ideal weight should be. More often than not, that weight is far below what their actual "healthy weight" should be, and not even a realistic goal.
-Men, on the other hand, tend to think their ideal weight as heavier than medically recommended. (Good excuse for eating more, I guess)
-Another indicator of body fat is waist size. (regardless of bmi formula result) A waist size over 40 "for a man and 35" for a woman indicates excessive body fat.
-High Blood Pressure and High Cholesterol can also be indicators of a high level of body fat. (and a correspondingly high bmi formula reading)
How do you know what your ideal weight should be?
For most people, if you consider your ideal weight to be what you weigh at 24, it's a good bet that weight would be your best weight for the rest of your life. If you can stay within 10 lbs. of that weight, you'd be doing great.
Wouldn't that be nice?
-Another simple yet reliable method of figuring out your ideal weight is this easy formula:
-For Men: Add 108 pounds for the first 5 feet of your height, and then add 6 pounds for each additional inch. (Deduct 6 lbs. For each inch under 5 feet) -But you tend to run heavier than women, due to more muscle and bone mass.
-For a six-foot man: 108 lbs. (first 5 feet) + 72 lbs. (12 "over 5 ', 12 times 6 pounds = 72) = 180 pounds, give or take depending on your build.
-For Women: Add 106 pounds for the first 5 feet of your height, then add 6 pounds for each added inch. (Deduct 6lbs. For each inch below 5 ft)
-Not really the bmi formula type? Try the body mass index chart below:- To Find Your Bmi : Find your height in the left hand column, follow across to your current weight, then go down to your Bmi # on the bottom.
Height | Weight (lbs.) |
---|
4' 10" | 91 | 96 | 100 | 105 | 110 | 115 | 119 | 124 | 129 | 134 | 138 | 143 |
4' 11" | 94 | 99 | 104 | 109 | 114 | 119 | 124 | 128 | 133 | 138 | 143 | 148 |
5' 0" | 97 | 102 | 107 | 112 | 118 | 123 | 128 | 133 | 138 | 143 | 148 | 153 |
5' 1" | 100 | 106 | 111 | 116 | 122 | 127 | 132 | 137 | 143 | 148 | 153 | 158 |
5' 2" | 104 | 109 | 115 | 120 | 126 | 131 | 136 | 142 | 147 | 153 | 158 | 164 |
5' 3" | 107 | 113 | 118 | 124 | 130 | 135 | 141 | 146 | 152 | 158 | 163 | 169 |
5' 4" | 110 | 116 | 122 | 128 | 134 | 140 | 145 | 151 | 157 | 163 | 169 | 174 |
5' 5" | 114 | 120 | 126 | 132 | 138 | 144 | 150 | 156 | 162 | 168 | 174 | 180 |
5' 6" | 118 | 124 | 130 | 136 | 142 | 148 | 155 | 161 | 167 | 173 | 179 | 186 |
5' 7" | 121 | 127 | 134 | 140 | 146 | 153 | 159 | 166 | 172 | 178 | 185 | 191 |
5' 8" | 125 | 131 | 138 | 144 | 151 | 158 | 164 | 171 | 177 | 184 | 190 | 197 |
5' 9" | 128 | 135 | 142 | 149 | 155 | 162 | 169 | 176 | 182 | 189 | 196 | 203 |
5' 10" | 132 | 139 | 146 | 153 | 160 | 167 | 174 | 181 | 188 | 195 | 202 | 207 |
5' 11" | 136 | 143 | 150 | 157 | 165 | 172 | 179 | 186 | 193 | 200 | 208 | 215 |
6' 0" | 140 | 147 | 154 | 162 | 169 | 177 | 184 | 191 | 199 | 206 | 213 | 221 |
6' 1" | 144 | 151 | 159 | 166 | 174 | 182 | 189 | 197 | 204 | 212 | 219 | 227 |
6' 2" | 148 | 155 | 163 | 171 | 179 | 186 | 194 | 202 | 210 | 218 | 225 | 233 |
6' 3" | 152 | 160 | 168 | 176 | 184 | 192 | 200 | 208 | 216 | 224 | 232 | 240 |
6' 4" | 156 | 164 | 172 | 180 | 189 | 197 | 205 | 213 | 221 | 230 | 238 | 246 |
BMI# | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 |
---|
-Top of page - Balanced Diet Chart - My Healthy Eating Plans -
- To Estimate Your Ideal Weight:
Start at the bottom of the Bmi Chart above, at a Bmi of 25 , go up until you find your height row. A new weight below this number would be a healthy weight. (Bmi # 24 would be great!)
-You can go left on your row as your body size decreases. Sorry, only elderly folks and athletes can go right at their height row.
-Remember, but do tend two carry a higher body weight and Bmi # because of higher muscle mass, and bone mass. (and both, weigh more)
To Extended Bmi chart (for adult obesity)
-After learning your ideal weight from the bmi chart above, your next move should be to do something about it!
How about this: Did you know that for every pound of muscle you add to your body, you use up to 50 more calories a day while at rest?
Check out our 15 minute Chart for burning calories the easy way.
-We certainly hope that some of the methods described here helped you to discover your ideal and healthiest weight.
Perhaps they even inspired you to try to attain it.
Take a look at this BMI calculator for children and teens from the CDC.
-To lengthen your life, shorten your meals.
~ Proverb
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