Body mass index (BMI) is measure of body fat based on height and weight that applies to both adult men and women.. BMI does not differentiate between body fat and muscle mass. Therefore, body builders and people who have a lot of muscle bulk will have a high BMI but are not overweight.
Fat predominantly distributed around the waist is also a risk factor for health complications such as cardiovascular disease and type II diabetes. Fat predominantly deposited around the hips and buttocks doesn’t have this same risk.
Use the following BMI Calculators:
- Adult BMI Calculator (Center for Disease Control and Prevention)
- Child and Teen BMI Calculator (Center for Disease Control and Prevention)
- Adult Energy Needs and BMI Calculator (Agricultural Research Service, USDA) – It not only tells you BMI but also Daily Calories needs for an individual based on his sex, age and activity level. If one can eat less then that, he will lose weight.
Reference:
Calle EE. New England Journal of Medicine 1999; 341: 1097-1105
