Body mass index

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BMI or Body Mass index is a calculation. It shows if you are the right weight for your height. In this calculation it measures weight in kg and height in m^2.

\mbox{BMI} = \frac{weight (kg) }{height (m) ^2}

It was thought up between 1830 and 1850 by the Belgian polymath, Adolphe Quetelet. It is still used nowadays by governments even though it came about 150 years ago.

Contents

[edit] Try it

All you have to do is put in your height and weight figures.

[edit] Overweight or not?

BMI can be used to determine if a person is overweight. The figures below are not to be used for small children who are growing.

The following are common definitions of BMI thresholds:

[edit] Men

  • Underweight: less than 20 (<20)
  • Ideal: between 20 and 25 (>=20 but <25)
  • Overweight: between 25 and 30 (>=25 but <30)
  • Obese: 30 or more (>=30)

[edit] Women

  • Underweight: less than 18 (<18)
  • Ideal: between 18 and 25 (>=18 but <25)
  • Overweight: between 25 and 30 (>=25 but <30)
  • Obese: 30 or more (>=30)

[edit] Variations

The above should only be taken as a guide. Different countries and different doctors may apply different values. In 1998, the US National Institutes of Health brought US definitions into line with WHO guidelines. They decreased the normal/overweight cut-off from BMI 27.8 to BMI 25. About 30 million Americans who were fine before, are now seen as overweight. The World Health Organization uses the term "pre-obese" where the USA uses "overweight".

For Asian body types the WHO recommends to use BMI 23, instead of 25. Further studies need to be done, to determine more precise values.

For Asians, the new cut-off BMI index for obesity is 27.5 compared with the traditional WHO figure of 30. An Asian adult with a BMI of 23 or greater is now considered overweight and the ideal normal range is 18.5-22.9.

[edit] External links

Singapore BMI Cut-offs