Total Health Dynamics™light.gif (1891 bytes)
Solutions For Weight Loss That Lasts, Higher Energy, & Better Health

What Do Health Experts Think About 
How Much You Weigh?  Calculate Your Body Mass Index (BMI) And Find Out Instantly! 

  • Enter your weight in pounds and your height in inches.
Weight (lbs.) Height (in) Your BMI Your Rating

What your BMI number means . . . 

  • Determining your BMI is a quick and fairly reliable way to figure out if you have a healthy height-to-weight ratio.
  • Different BMI values can signify underweight, ideal weight, slightly overweight, or obese. BMI ranges are slightly different for men and women.

The following table describes the possible significance of the BMI:

Men Women Risk Factor
BMI Less than 20.7   BMI Less than 19.1 Underweight. lower  BMI = greater risk
  20.7 to 26.4   19.1 to 25.8 Normal, very low risk
  26.4 to 27.8   25.8 to 27.3 Marginally overweight, some risk
  27.8 to 31.1   27.3 to 32.2 Overweight. moderate risk
  31.1 to 45.4   32.3 to 44.8 Severe overweight, high risk
Greater than 45.4   Greater than 44.8 Morbid obesity, very high risk

(Source: Understanding Nutrition by Whitney and Rolfes)

BMI is a good indicator for determining overweight in most people, however, it has limitations; BMI does not measure body composition.

  • BMI does not take frame size or body fat and lean muscle mass ratios into account, accordingly, people with stockier, more muscular builds may be considered overweight according to BMI numbers even if they have a very healthy body fat percentage.  
  • HOWEVER, make no mistake about it, BMI applies to all big-boned people if their WAIST is larger than their HIPS.  And BMI applies to EVERYONE regardless of bone structure or regardless of waist measurement, IF your body is soft and giggly, instead of tight and firm.  
  • The major failing of BMI is that someone in great shape with low body fat and plenty of lean muscle mass may show up as overweight, while someone with normal weight and a high body fat percentage, could show up in the "healthy range" regarding body weight. Clearly, both readings would be deceptive. The person with the lower body fat percentage would be in a much lower health risk category than the person with the higher body fat percentage, even though BMI results would indicate the opposite.

A professionally administered test that physically measures body fat percentage is an overall better indicator of health risk. The following table summarizes information from the American Dietetic Association and the National Research Council regarding body fat percentages and health risk.

Body Fat Percentage Table

Rating

Men

  Women 

Excellent*

6-10%

10-15%

Good

11-14

16-19

Acceptable

15-18

20-25

Obese

>25%

>30%

* The "excellent" rating usually is achieved only by competitive athletes

If your body fat exceeds 14% for males and 19% for females, it’s a SURE BET your health and energy level will improve if you reduce your   body fat.

BMI readings are NOT a good body weight predictor for people in these groups:

  • Children and teens, because BMI ranges are based on adult heights
  • Competitive athletes and bodybuilders, because heavier muscle weight skews the results and lean body mass is not a health risk. (excess body fat is)
  • Pregnant or nursing women, because they need more fat reserves than usual
  • People over 65, because even BMI values of 29 do not appear to be unhealthy at this age, and may even be a useful energy reserve in case of illness

Want overall better health?  Reducing excess body fat, is the best way to reduce your BMI number and improve your overall health.

  • Even a 5% reduction from your current weight is beneficial to your health. For instance, a 5'2" female who weighs 150 pounds (BMI=27), can improve her health by losing as little as seven pounds, reducing her BMI to 26.
  • If you are overweight, eliminating excess body fat will have a dramatic positive impact on your health and energy level.
  • If you are overweight and carry that weight primarily above the belt, in the stomach and midsection and if you want to maintain your health, it is important that you learn what’s going on in your body and get started on a permanent weight reduction program.

Your body shape tells you a lot about your hormones and your hormones largely determine your quality of health.  

Bottom Line on BMI

  • BMI is a good guide for most people to determine health risk.
  • If your BMI number is more than 1-2 points above your "ideal" range it's certain you will benefit greatly by losing weight and eliminating excess body fat.

If you want a safe, natural, permanent weight loss program,  check out 5 Steps to Optimal Health,

"Now is the best time to take control of your health!" 

If NOW is your time to lose weight and reach an attractive, healthy body weight you are proud of, visit: 5 Steps To Optimal Health

For excellent health information on a variety of topics, visit; http://www.VoiceOfHealth.com 


All pages Copyright © Total Health Dynamics, 2008