Understand Normal Weight Values – Part 2

The Body Mass Index (BMI) is a number that is calculated from a persons weight and height and provides a very reliable indicator of how much fat a person is carrying. This is the most common way of screening for weight categories that can lead to heart and health problems.

Calculating your BMI is different for adults and teenagers. It can be done using a calculator online or manually. You must first know your weight in pounds and your height in inches. If you are 5’4” and weigh 150 pounds you calculate your BMI using this formula:
height of 5’4” = 64 inches; 64 inches squared = 4,096
150 divided by 4096 = 0.0362 multiply by 705 = 25.8 (rounded up to
26) Your BMI is 26.

To understand normal weight values you must know the BMI chart. Basically anyone with a BMI less than 18.5 is underweight; normal weight is a BMI between 18.5 and 24.9; any BMI over 25 is considered overweight.

To further understand how the BMI is used to calculate obesity and health risks:
A BMI of 30 or more qualifies as obese
A BMI of 40 indicates that a person is morbidly obese
Those who have a waist size of more than 40 inches for men and 35 for women have a higher risk for obesity related health problems such as diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease.

To understand normal weight values you should also have a good understanding of what good nutrition and a healthy lifestyle looks like. Good body image and an appreciation of your health rounds out understanding normal weight values.

Resources:

US Food and Drug Administration: how to Understand and Use the Nutrition Facts Labels

http://www.fda.gov/food/ingredientspackaginglabeling/labelingnutrition/ucm274593.htm

Science: Information about Energy Balanc

http://science.education.nih.gov/supplements/nih4/energy/guide/info-energy-balance.htm

Center for Disease Control and Prevention: healthy Weight – It’s not a diet, it’s a lifestyle

http://www.cdc.gov/healthyweight/assessing/bmi/

American heart Association: What Your Cholesterol Levels Mean

http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/Conditions/Cholesterol/AboutCholesterol/What-Your-Cholesterol-Levels-Mean_UCM_305562_Article.jsp

University of New Mexico: Getting a Grip on Body Composition

http://www.unm.edu/~lkravitz/Article%20folder/underbodycomp.html

Colorado State University: Understanding the Food Label