BMI formula

BMI formula

What is the BMI formula?

A Belgian statistician named Adolphe Quetelet developed the BMI formula in the nineteenth century. It is still used today to determine the ratio between a person’s height and weight. The is a mathematical formula that determines the amount of body fat a person has and helps to determine whether or not a person is overweight, underweight or has a normal weight for his/her height. It is more useful in predicting whether or not a person’s weight is actually a health risk for adults. 

The BMI formula can be worked out in several ways. In the first method the person’s weight in kilograms is divided by his/her height in metres. If you are using the imperial system, you have to multiply the weight in pounds by 704.5 and then divide it by the height in inches. The result is the same. If the answer you get to the mathematical computation is less than 18.5, then you are underweight. The normal range of BMI should lie somewhere between 18.5 and 24.9.A BMI of over 30 means you are in the obese range and you should take immediate steps to reducing your weight because of the health risks of heart disease and diabetes.  

An easier way to use the BMI formula to calculate the body mass index is to divide your weight by twice your height and multiply by 703. Even then if you have a lot of muscle the calculation may not be accurate because the calculator cannot actually see the amount of fat that is on your body. 

If you apply the BMI formula to calculate your body mass index and then measure the circumference of your waist, you will have a better indication of whether or not you need to lose weight. When you start to diet and lose weight, instead of constantly weighing yourself on the scales, you should take a measurement of your waist at regular intervals. When you lose weight through diet and exercise you will gain muscle, which will not produce any measurable changes in the BMI. The real benefit comes from losing the extra pounds and decreasing your risk of developing any of the medical problems usually associated with being overweight.

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