Why You Should Know Your Body Mass Index (BMI)

Body Mass Index (BMI) is the value you get which tells you how healthy you are based on your body weight and your height.

To calculate your BMI, you must first of all know your height in metres and weight in Kilograms.

The formula for calculating BMI:

BMI =      Your Body weight in Kilograms  divided by Your Height in metres squared

BMI = Weight(kg)/ Height (m²)

Let's assume your weight is 90kg

and your height is 1.5metres.

You will first of all multiply your height in meters by 2 which is 1.5metres x 2 = 30

BMI =   90/30

BMI =   30

Knowing your BMI is not where it ends. You need to use it as a clue to where you stand based on your weight and health.

If your BMI is below 18.5, it means you are underweight.

If your BMI is from 18.5 to 24.9, it means your weight is considered normal.

But if your BMI is from 25 to 30, you are considered overweight.

And  BMI value above 30 means you are obese known as Obesity.

There are studies that point to the fact that BMI values differ based on age, ethnicity and if the person is male or female.

Someone can have BMI below 25 but still not be as healthy as expected. The person may still have some underlying heart issues, diabetes or even experience Obesity symptoms..

The key is to use BMI as a guide while carefully considering other factors with a certified medical doctor. 

Now you can clearly rate where you belong and decide to either take steps to bring your BMI to a safe value if you are obese or increase it to a moderate level if you are underweight based on your BMI value.