BMI is short for body mass index, which is a measurement of body fat based on a person's height and weight. This eMedTV Web page explains how this number is used to help determine if a person is overweight or obese.
By entering your height and weight into a simple formula, body mass index can be determined. This eMedTV article explains how BMI calculation differs depending on which system of measurement you're using.
This eMedTV resource contains a free BMI calculator you can use to quickly determine your body mass index. In addition to the BMI calculator, this article provides information about interpreting your body mass index numbers.
In a BMI scale, variations of height and weight measurements are combined in a standard, easy-to-use table. This eMedTV resource features a scale that you can use to determine your level of body fat and includes links to more information on BMI.
As this eMedTV page explains, using the BMI formula is one way to determine a person's body mass index, which is an indirect measure of body fatness. This article explains how to use the formula with either the metric system or the English system.
For most people, a BMI between 18.5 and 24.9 is considered healthy. This article from the eMedTV Web site discusses the importance of a healthy BMI and explains that body mass index is calculated differently for children than for adults.
BMI and weight are not the only factors to consider when assessing a person's risk for obesity-related health problems. This eMedTV article explains how waist circumference and other factors are used with BMI and weight when assessing health risks.
As explained in this eMedTV resource, there is no special BMI chart for women; it is the same measurement tool used by men. A BMI chart for women will work equally well for men.
It doesn't matter if you're calculating BMI for men or women -- it is done in the same way. This eMedTV article provides a formula that may be used to calculate BMI for men or women.
Using BMI for athletes may not result in an accurate assessment of body fat. As this eMedTV page explains, BMI may overestimate the level of body fat in athletes. This article looks at other ways of assessing athletes' body fat.
Statistics indicate that nearly 61 million American adults are obese. This eMedTV resource discusses obesity and BMI in detail and explains how BMI is used to determine if a person is overweight or obese.
