Figuring Out Your Body Mass Index (BMI)

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), body mass index (BMI) accurately predicts excess weight, which can lead to negative health outcomes, including diabetes, heart disease and stroke. Knowing where you stand is the first step to losing weight, therefore BMI calculators are readily available online at health-related websites. With a pen and paper, or calculator, you can figure your own BMI.

Determine your weight in pounds and your height in inches.

Multiply your weight in pounds by 703.

Divide the result by your height in inches. Divide that result once again by your height in inches. The resulting number is your BMI. See the example below for a 5-foot-6-inch person who weighs 155 pounds.

155 X 703 = 108,965 / 66 = 1,650.984848 / 66 = 25.0

This person's BMI is 25, which is considered overweight. A BMI between 25 and 29.9 is considered overweight. A figure of 30 or higher classifies you as obese. Normal BMI range is between 18.5 and 24.9, while anything under 18.5 is labeled underweight.

• As the CDC points out, BMI is a reliable indicator of weight for most people. For some individuals, this is not the case. For instance, people with low body fat and large amounts of muscle may weigh a lot. This weight, though, is not necessarily unhealthy since it is muscle rather than fat.
• BMI is not the only indicator of a healthy or unhealthy weight. As Harvard Medical School notes, pay attention to your waistline. Anything over 35 inches is cause for serious concern for a female. You are considered at high risk for negative health outcomes, if you are male with waist circumference greater than 40 inches.
• If you need to lower your BMI, consider this: One pound of body fat equals 3,500 calories. To lose a pound, according to the CDC, you must burn 3,500 calories through exercise, limiting calories consumed or a combination of both. Healthy weight loss that will last should not exceed two pounds per week.