BMI is a tool for indicating your weight
status. The
mathematical calculation takes into
account both your weight and height.
Although BMI doesn’t distinguish
between fat and muscle, it more closely
reflects measures of body fat than does
total body weight.
Although a BMI number tends to
correlate with body fat for most people,
it’s not always a good match. Some
people may have a high BMI but
relatively little body fat. For example,
an athlete may be 6 feet 3 inches tall and
weigh 230 pounds, giving him a BMI of
29 — well above the classification of
healthy weight. But he’s not overweight
because training has turned most of his
weight into lean muscle mass.
By the same token, there may be some
people who have a BMI in the “healthy”
range but who carry a high percentage of
body fat. For most people, though, BMI
provides a fairly accurate approximation
of health risk as it relates to their weight.
WHAT'S YOUR BMI?
To determine your BMI, find your height in
the left column. Follow that row across to
the weight nearest yours. Look at the top
of that column for your approximate BMI.
Or use this formula:
-Multiply your height (in inches) by
your height (in inches).
-Divide your weight (in pounds) by the
results of the first step.
-Multiply that answer by 703. (For
example, a 270-pound person, 68
inches tall, has a BMI of 41.
IS YOUR HEALTH AT RISK?
If your BMI is less than 18.5, talk with your
doctor. You may be at risk of health
conditions associated with a low body
weight. A BMI of 18.5 to 24.9 is considered
a healthy range, but Asians with a BMI of
23 or more may have an increased risk of
health problems.
