Know Your Body Mass Index (BMI) | Timi Gustafson, R.D. | How to Eat Right and Still Have Fun

The Body Mass Index ( BMI) is a formula commonly used by health care professionals to assess weight related risks, such as heart disease, hypertension, diabetes and certain types of cancer. It is only a guideline and may not apply to women during pregnancy and lactation, athletes whose BMI is elevated with their increased muscle mass and seniors who lost muscle mass due to aging.

How to Interpret
Your BMI Score

To understand how the BMI works, it is crucial to remember that the formula only considers weight in relation to height. Two people can have the same BMI but very different amounts of body fat. For instance, a bodybuilder with a large muscle mass and low percentage of fat may have the same BMI as an obese person.

A BMI score between 19 and 25 is considered low risk for any weight related health problems. Of course, weight is only one of the factors responsible for the diseases listed above. This is the formula:

Body Mass Index (BMI) Formula
Example: If John weighs 165 pounds and is 5′ 11″ (71 inches) tall, his BMI is 23.0.