Simple Body Mass Index – BMI Guide


A healthy body contains enough lean tissue to support health and the right amount of fat to meet a body’s needs. Having a perfect body is a goal many people try to achieve, but often fail because either the amount or fat or the muscle mass is out of balance. It is often the key reason why people go on a diet.

Many people look in the mirror and see an image they do not like. They feel they are too heavy and start asking their friends how much they weigh, for comparison, and suddenly become obsessed by a specific number, which is actually wrong for them. What these men and women do not realize is that there is more to a perfect body than a few digits on a scale; they should also take their height into account.

Anyone attempting a diet should be aware of their BMI. The Body Mass Index describes relative weight for height and can be determined by dividing the weight (in kilograms) by the square of the height (meters) – weight (pounds) x 703 divided by the square of the height (inches). Underweight people are below the acceptable weight that is generally defined in relationship to height, while overweight people go the opposite direction.

Once a BMI result has been established it should be compared to a BMI chart. BMI categories show that:
• 18.5 or under = Underweight
• 18.5-24.9 = Normal weight
• 25-29.9 = Overweight
• 30 = Obese
• 40 or greater = Morbidly obese

While BMI does not measure body fat directly, results have proven to correspond closely to direct measures of body fat in most adults. Check out the BMI calculator below.

The BMI in children should be established by a physician or dietician, because other factors, like gender and age, also play a big part in the determination of a healthy weight. Even teens should not use the formula and, when visiting a practitioner, should have a parent present when BMI results are discussed. Teenagers are under a lot of peer pressure and sometimes do not understand the consequences of extreme and unrealistic diets!

When calculating your BMI, keep in mind that it reflects weight and height measures and not body composition. Consequently, women who are pregnant or lactating, or bodybuilders, may be perceived as overweight by BMI standard, yet may be far from fat. Take for example Arnold Schwarzenegger. At the peak of his career, when he won the Mr. Olympia competition, his BMI was 31. Under normal circumstances that would be considered obese, yet in his case, nobody would even consider classifying him as such.

Prominent bone density and protein content differences can also be noted among people of various ethnic and racial groups. For instance, people from China, India and Malaysia are regarded as overweight if their BMI is greater than 23 and obese when higher than 27.5. If you believe you belong to such a minority, it may be best to have your doctor determine your BMI. This will rule out inaccurate readings and incorrect diets.

The Body Mass Index measurement has been around for almost 100 years, and is used across the globe by medical professionals, weight loss organisations and insurance agencies. However, recent scientific studies have revealed findings showing that weight around the waist is more import than overall weight or BMI measurement. According to the research, every 2 inch increase in waist size augments the risk of premature death by men by 17%. The study also concluded that men, whose waist exceeds 47in, have a risk of death twice as high as those with a waist line under 31.5in. The same was observed for women over 39in compared to those measuring fewer than 25.5in.

Unhealthy people, or those with health risks, should measure their 'waist to hip ratio' (WHR) as an independent tool in addition to BMI. It is not only the total amount of body fat that can affect health, but also the location of the fat on your body. The waist to hip ratio has proven to be an effective health risk predictor, and a guideline less dependent on body size and height. To determine your ratio, divide your waist measurement by your hip measurement in cm. Scores are:
Female Male Health Risk based on WHR
0.80 or below 0.95 or below Low Risk
0.81 to 0.85 0.96 to 1.0 Moderate Risk
0.85+ 1.0+ Increased Risk

Despite all the contradictions, many people continue to believe that a BMI calculator is still a fantastic way to keep track of their weight loss results. Using a free online BMI calculator is easy and can be done any time and as often as deemed necessary. All you have to do is enter your weight (in kilograms) and height (in centimeters) and the program will display your result almost instantly. It is a simple tool that can help ease your mind and keep you true to your diet!

BMI calculator for women – what does it mean?


Whether or not they have cankles, cellulite, muffin tops, stretch marks or saddle bags, nearly all women worldwide are dissatisfied with their weight, or physical appearance, at some point in time. They wonder if they will ever fit into the standards set by modern society and skinny runway models and sooner or later, ask themselves those eternal, familiar questions: "How can I regain my youthful looks and why is a healthy BMI a good way to measure weight and fitness?"

BMI or Body Mass Index has been around for nearly a century and has been used by women and health care professionals ever since its formula was revealed.

English BMI Formula BMI = (Weight in Pounds / (Height in inches) x (Height in inches)) x 703

Metric BMI Formula BMI = (Weight in Kilograms / (Height in Meters) x (Height in Meters))

Other factors besides weight and height play a part in the determination of a child’s body fat and/or ideal weight, and are the reason why the BMI of a female child or teenager - up to the age of 19 - should be obtained from a medical professional. The same rule applies to pregnant and lactating women, or those who participate in extreme bodybuilding activities. They too should have their BMI determined by a physician or trained fitness expert.

Body mass index (BMI) is a calculation based on height and weight that correlates with the amount of body fat and can be compared to a simple chart. The following is a body mass index chart for women.

Category BMI
Underweight Below 18.5
Normal 18.5 - 24.9
Overweight 25.0 - 29.9
Obese 30.0 – 34.9
Extremely Obese 35.0 – 39.9
Morbidly Obese 40 or Above

It is essential that you provide accurate information regarding your height and weight at all times. Cheating helps no one and ignoring excess weight can put you at risk. Waist circumference is a good indicator of abdominal fat, which is another predictor of increased risk for developing hypertension, cardiovascular disease, Type 2 diabetes, high LDL cholesterol, low HDL cholesterol, and other chronic and dangerous health conditions.

BMI calculations do not take into account the makeup or distribution of a woman’s weight. That means that frame size, body fat percentage and muscle mass are not being considered. Take for example bodybuilders whose muscles are denser than fat. Even though the athletes may be extremely fit, because of their enhanced muscular build, they will, in all likelihood, end up with a BMI in the overweight or obese range.

Men are generally more muscular than women and their BMIs will naturally be higher than that of females of approximately the same size. For that reason, men should not use the same BMI charts as women.

Calculating your BMI will tell you if you are at a healthy weight and if using the formula is too complicated or you simply lack the time for calculations, free online BMI calculators are an easy solution. All they require is that you enter your current weight and height – either metric or English measurements - into the indicated fields, click the "calculate" icon and in seconds your BMI results will be displayed. It is so simple anyone can do it.

An automated BMI calculator for women is a handy tool that will not only save them time, but will also allow them to track any progress made during dieting. In that case, the BMI calculator should be used at regular intervals. Even women who are not on a weight loss program should check their BMI at least once a month. Medical research has shown that there is a gradual increase in a women's body mass index as they grow older, at least until the age of 50 – 60. Once that age has been reached, it is common that their BMI will then gradually start to decrease.

As much as we all want to believe that all people are equal, Mother Nature sometimes proves us wrong. BMI values in women vary significantly depending on age, but also fluctuate depending on their ethnic background. For example; Chinese, Indian and Malaysian ladies, are regarded as overweight with a BMI greater than 23 and fall into the 'obese' category when the result is greater than 27.5. Their BMI calculator will have to be adjusted to their specific physical condition, food habits and physical activity.

There is no denying it! BMI calculators are important in assisting women achieve their perfect weight and helping them ban those nasty ‘fat days’! All women have them, even those considered underweight. They too feel those societal pressures to be as thin as possible, regardless if it is healthy or not. BMI may not be flawless, but overall is still an acceptable way to determine a healthy weight range. Women should realize that their BMI is only a guideline and should not encourage anyone to go on a diet because they just missed the 'normal' range. That is definitely not the purpose of any BMI calculator for women. So, if you are one of those girls looking for answers, yet generally eat right, are active and feel good about yourself, don’t sweat the numbers and continue feeling happy!