Body Mass Index

Body Mass Index (BMI) is a number that is calculated from your weight and height. It indicates to you the amount of body fat you have and can also be used to check for weight problems that may lead to health problems such as heart disease and sleep apnea.

It is important for children to have their Body Mass Index checked as well as adults.Did you know that the amount of body fat in children changes as they get older and that body fat differs between male's and female's?There are many obese people in the world, including children.Obesity causes health problems in children such as hypertension and type 2 diabetes.If they are overweight as children, chances are they will be overweight, or even obese, as adults.

Teach your children, including teens, to maintain healthy eating habits.Because of the great number of video games, Internet access, and movies, young people tend to become physically unfit and will need some encouragement with their exercise programs.

Body Mass Index is meant to be used as a way to classify physically inactive people with an average body composition.A person who has a large amount ofmuscle mass, such as a bodybuilder, or weight lifter, might appear to be overweight, and long-distance runners might appear to be underweight.For this reason they would not be calculated using the Body Mass Index.

The purpose of BMI is to determine if your added pounds can put you into a health risk category.Fifteen or twenty pounds of extra weight can have a significant effect on your health. The higher your Body Mass Index, the greater chance you have of developing health problems. A person with heart disease, high blood pressure, or diabetes probably has these diseases because of being overweight.

You can be at risk of dying if your Body Mass Index goes to 30 or above.If your BMI is below 20, you have a low amount of body fat and you should probably gain weight.Remember that a healthy diet is just as important for lean people as it is for over weight people.The ideal BMI range is between 20 and 25.

It's important to remember that BMI is interpreted differently for adults.The reason for this is that adults have stopped growing and children have not.

Stepping on the bathroom scale is not enough. It is important to know your Body Mass Index.The number that is calculated is taken not only from your weight, but from your height as well.
Body Mass Index does not provide information such as muscle, and bone calculations.

Research shows that a weight loss of six to 12 pounds of extra weight can have a significant effect on the improvement of your health.

It is important to note that BMI is not an accurate indicator for people with eating disorders like anorexia nervosa, or people with extreme obesity.While Body Mass Index is a good indicator of the amount of fat you carry, it is not a perfect measurement.

Since your Body Mass Index is calculated by your weight and height, you will get a more accurate BMI number if you weigh yourself first thing in the morning, before eating.Weigh yourself in your bare feet, and wear minimal clothing.Weigh yourself each morning for a few days to see if your weight has fluctuated, and take the average number.

It is very important to check with your doctor before starting any exercise or weight-loss program.If your doctor tells you your BMI is high, don't become discouraged. Ask him what you should do to lower your BMI.