Use of body mass index as a measure of weight against height dates back to the 19th century and is possibly the most common measure of the fitness of a nation used in worldwide statistics.
For those worried about weight loss it should be stated that it is not directly used for calculating how healthy an individual might be as the calculations involved are simply a measure of height and weight and as it makes simple assumptions regarding body shapes, muscle and bone weights, it is invariably going to reduce in accuracy for individuals such as athletes or the young and old.
It is the ease at which doctors and statisticians can use the body mass index chart that make it such a widespread tool and whilst organisations such as insurance companies and underwriters will agree that the measure is not necessary accurate in all cases, they will often nevertheless use a body mass index level as a barometer for setting insurance premiums and use maximum BMI that will determine when individuals should pay additional loadings on their policies.
The body mass index can be calculated fairly easily using any of the three formulas below;
Once the calculation has been made it is possible to reference the result to a body mass index chart allowing one to determine which category one falls into. It should be noted that a large proportion of the U.S. population are deemed to be overweight and therefore seeing the results should not be a cause for immediate concern. If your index result does cause concern it would be advisable to seek medical advice rather than to panic, it is simply a guide.
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The U.S. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey of 1994 indicate that 59% of American men and 49% of women have BMIs over 25. Morbid obesity — a BMI of 40 or more — was found in 2% of the men and 4% of the women. The newest survey in 2007 indicates a continuation of the increase in BMI: 63% of Americans are overweight, with 26% now in the obese category (a BMI of 30 or more). There are differing opinions on the threshold for being underweight in females; doctors quote anything from 18.5 to 20 as being the lowest weight, the most frequently stated being 19. A BMI nearing 15 is usually used as an indicator for starvation and the health risks involved, with a BMI <17.5 being an informal criterion for the diagnosis of anorexia nervosa.
However, as mentioned previously body mass index charts are meant to be a guide only and with my own body mass index coming in at 29 the index doesn’t appear to offer me much good news, but I don’t expect to be giving up my hearty breakfasts any time soon.
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