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BMI: What is it and what does it mean?
Body mass index (BMI) is a widely used measure for determining healthy body weight, compared with an individual's height. BMI is calculated by dividing a person's weight in kilograms by the square of their height in metres. BMI scores cannot differentiate between different causes for an individual being above the defined limit of healthy weight for height. For example, individuals who are muscular, pregnant or breast-feeding may record BMI scores above the healthy weight for height range. In these circumstances such scores do not pose the same risks of ill-health compared with high scores that are associated with overweight or obesity. BMI is also not suitable for children, it is only a measurement for persons over the age of 18. Nevertheless, for the general adult population, BMI can be used as an approximate estimate of your total amount of body fat. It is important to be aware of your BMI. Those who have a BMI of greater than 25 are considered overweight and those with a BMI over 30 fall into the category of obese. Overweight and obesity are considered risk factors for many diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure and some cancers. |
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