Body Mass Index Information

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Body Mass Index (BMI)

BMI is a term that isn't completely familiar to everyone. It is short for Body Mass Index. It approaches a standard, and is the common choice for physicians and for research concerning obesity. With a mathematical formula, BMI uses a person's height and weight for the calculation. Your Body Mass Index is equal to your weight in kilograms divided by your height in meters squared. It is expressed as BMI=kg/m2. In the table below, the risks for disease associated with being over weight or obese are listed based on BMI and waist size for women and men. For your convenience, use the calculator below the chart for your BMI.

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The exact index values used to determine weight categories vary from authority to authority, but in general a BMI less than 18.5 is underweight and may indicate malnutrition, an eating disorder, or other health problem, while a BMI greater than 25 is overweight and above 30 is considered obese. These range boundaries apply to adults over 20 years of age.

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Given the reservations detailed above concerning the limitations of the BMI as a diagnostic tool for individuals, the following are common definitions of BMI thresholds:

• Underweight: less than 20 (<20)
• Ideal: greater than or equal to 20 but less than 25 (>=20 but <25)
• Overweight: greater than or equal to 25 but less than 30 (>=25 but <30)
• Obese: greater than or equal to 30 (>=30)