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Calculating your BMI (Body Mass Index)

BMI stands for Body Mass Index. It is important to know what your BMI does and does not indicate about your weight, health and lifestyle choices. Your BMI is calculated from your height and weight. It is a fairly reliable indicator of body fat for most adults, with athletes and the elderly being two exceptions. It is only one of many factors that you and your health-care provider should use in evaluating your health status.

Calculating Your BMI
You can calculate your BMI with this formula: [weight (in pounds) / height (in inches) x height (in inches)] x 703 or use the ADA BMI calculator.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention uses BMI to define terms like overweight and obese:

Underweight: BMI below 18.5
Normal weight: 18.5 to 24.9
Overweight: 25.0 to 29.9
Obese: 30.0 and above.

BMI and Your Health
People with very low or very high BMIs tend to have the greatest health risks. Even so, BMI is only one factor in your overall health. For example, if your BMI falls into the normal weight category, you will still have a higher risk of health problems if you:

Smoke cigarettes
Do not participate in regular physical activity
Eat lots of nutrient-poor foods with added fat and sugar.

If your BMI is in the overweight category, you will have a lower overall health risk if you:

Get regular physical activity
Have blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol levels that are within normal limits.

Remember, our goal is for you to be fit, healthy & feel good about yourself!