It’s something that you hear about all the time, so you need to figure out how to determine your body mass index (BMI) properly. Many people tend to focus only on the number on the scale, and this doesn’t give you the whole picture. As you work to try to lose weight, you want to take into consideration your overall body makeup.
When you look at something such as BMI, you are getting a clearer overall picture of your health. You can determine if you are overweight or if your body consists largely of muscle. This is an important measure so that you have a better idea of what to work toward in terms of your goals. So, as you determine your body mass index (BMI), you want to be sure that you calculate it exactly right.
The first thing that you need to do is weigh and measure yourself. Not only do you need to get an idea of how much you weigh, but you also need to know how tall you are. This will all factor into your BMI, so each number matters. As you determine your body mass index (BMI) you want to get both your weight and your height correct.
The simple calculation for finding your BMI is as follows:
- Multiply your weight in pounds by 703.
- Divide that answer by your height in inches.
- Divide that answer by your height in inches again.
For example, a woman who weighs 270 pounds and is 68 inches tall has a BMI of 41.0.
If you are wondering what all of this means, here are some categories that help to break down the results once you determine your body mass index (BMI):
- Less than 18 percent is considered underweight.
- Between 18.6 and 24.9 is considered ideal.
- Between 25 and 29.9 is considered overweight.
- Anything above 30 percent is considered obese.
Understand this number; factor it in as you develop your weight loss goals; and then you will know what you need to work toward. BMI is not the end-all measure of health, but it certainly gives you an idea of where you stand and where you need to go in terms of weight. Your BMI will change as you work toward proper and lasting weight loss, and you will see the healthy results you’ve always wanted.
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