There is universal agreement that the best tool to use to determine if you are overweight, or obese is the BMI (Body Mass Index). BMI Calculators make it easy for you to determine your BMI, your weight category, and your associated health risks.
All over the world studies have indicated that BMI provides a reasonably accurate indication of your percentage of body fat. Additional investigations have found a linear relationship between BMI and your likelihood of getting diseases like diabetes, CVD (Cardio Vascular Disease), and certain type of cancer. Because the level of health risk to BMI is not exact only broad ranges of BMI and associated health risks were created. See what BMI category are you in below.
How to Calculate BMI?
For Metric units use:
BMI = (weight in kgs) / (height in meters)2
Method 2: Calculate Manually in English units
BMI = (weight in pounds) * 703 / (height in inches)2
Method 3: Use a free online Adult BMI Calculator
MyDietForWeightLoss.com\Adult-BMI-Calculator
What BMI Category are you in?
Determine your BMI category so you know what health risks apply to you.
BMI 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
If you are overweight you have a lot of company. According to the World Health Organization there are over 1 billion overweight adults in the world. Even the obese category contains over 300 million adults.
How does excess fat affect your health risk?
The conditions that cause people to be overweight or obese also cause metabolic effects on blood pressure, cholesterol, triglycerides, and insulin resistance. Non-fatal health problems like respiratory difficulties, chronic musculoskeletal problems, skin problems, and infertility have also been linked with obesity. More serious health problems associated with higher percentages of body fat include CVD, Type 2 Diabetes, certain types of cancer (generally ones associated with hormones), and gallbladder disease.
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
* BMI's for those that are very muscular can be inaccurate
* 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.com\Child-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.