The
term BMI is often used when discussing the obesity epidemic,
but what is BMI?
BMI stands for Body Mass Index. It
is a number that shows body weight adjusted for height.
BMI can be calculated with simple math using inches and
pounds, or meters and kilograms. For adults aged 20 years
or older, BMI falls into one of these categories: underweight,
normal, overweight, or obese.
BMI for Adults
Body Mass Index or BMI is a tool for
indicating weight status in adults.1 It is a measure of
weight for height. For adults over 20 years old, BMI falls
into one of these categories:
|
BMI
|
Weight
Status
|
|
Below
18.5
18.5
- 24.9
25.0
- 29.9
30.0
and Above
|
Underweight
Normal
Overweight
Obese
|
Note:
BMI for Children and Teens is based on gender and age specific
charts.
BMI correlates with body fat. The relation between
fatness and BMI differs with age and gender. For example,
women are more likely to have a higher percent of body fat
than men for the same BMI. On average, older people may
have more body fat than younger adults with the same BMI.
For more information about overweight among adults, see
Clinical Guidelines on the Identification, Evaluation,
and Treatment of Overweight and Obesity in Adults. Bethesda,
MD: NHLBI, 1998.
How
does BMI relate to health?
The BMI ranges are based on the effect body weight has on
disease and death. As BMI increases, the risk for some disease
increases. Some common conditions related to overweight
and obesity include
|
•
|
Premature
death |
|
•
|
Cardiovascular
disease |
|
•
|
High
blood pressure |
|
•
|
Osteoarthritis
|
|
•
|
Some
cancers |
|
•
|
Diabetes
|
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. It is important to remember
that weight is only one factor that is related to disease.
BMI
for Children and Teens
(Also referred to as BMI-for-age)
BMI is Used Differently with Children
Than it is With Adults
In children and teens, body mass index is used to assess
underweight, overweight, and risk for overweight. Children's
body fatness changes over the years as they grow. Also,
girls and boys differ in their body fatness as they mature.
This is why BMI for children, also referred to as BMI-for-age,
is gender and age specific. BMI-for-age is plotted on gender
specific growth charts. These charts are used for children
and teens 2 - 20 years of age.
Source:
http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpa/bmi/
Different
sites for BMI Calculator
http://www.integrarx.com/bmi.asp?GTSE=GOTO>KW=body+mass+index+calculator
http://www.halls.md/body-mass-index/bmi.htm
http://nhlbisupport.com/bmi/bmicalc.htm
http://www.kcnet.com/~marc/bmi.html
http://www.weightwatchers.com/health/asm/calc_bmi.aspx
http://www.healthchecksystems.com/bmi.asp
http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpa/bmi/calc-bmi.htm
(government site)
http://www.familydoctor.org/x2544.xml
