Why are BMIs useful ?

BMI Calculator

Welcome to BMIcalculator.ie.The easy and painless method to find out your body mass index. Body mass index is a way to determine if you are overweight or obese, overweight or normal. For those who are conscious regarding their health, calculating BMI could lead to the alteration of lifestyles that could negatively impact current or future health. Simply enter your height and weight into the calculator and get all the information you need in an instant.Take charge of you health today!

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Is your body mass index ( BMI) really matters?

There are many reasons why a healthcare professional may take your weight and height during every checkup--one being so they can calculate your measure of body mass (BMI). What exactly is BMI but? Do the numbers really affect you?

What is BMI?

Your BMI is a measurement of your weight-to-height ratio (e.g. the taller that you're, the heavier you're expected to weigh). Everyone's BMI lies somewhere on an incline, which makes their weight as being underweight healthy, healthy or a degree of obesity.

• Underweight: BMI under 18.5
• Healthy: BMI between 18.5-24.9
• Overweight: BMI between 25-29.9
• Obesity BMI greater than 30

How do I determine my BMI?

One of the most efficient ways to figure out your BMI is to look for a no-cost BMI calculator on the internet. Once you find one you are happy with, all you need to enter is your height and weight.

Does BMI an accurate measurement on my health?

Yes and no. BMI can be a valuable instrument that doctors can use to quickly determine health threats. For instance, a person with a high BMI has a higher chance of developing cardiovascular disease and diabetes--but your BMI alone isn't an accurate view of health. Regardless of your BMI however, it's important that your provider knows about health factors in your life and family history that could affect your health.

As Gundersen certified dietician Laura Birkel says: "Making sure you're getting enough activity, staying away from nicotine, engaging in regular physical activity and eating a good balanced diet are better indicators of your overall health than your BMI alone."

It's important to keep in your mind that BMI can not always accurately describe your body's exact composition, for example, the proportion of muscle versus fat you possess. It's possible that you'll intensify your exercise routine and observe that your clothes start to fit differently , yet your weight or BMI remains the same. This is because the makeup of your body is changing (you're adding muscle mass and loss of weight).

OK. So why does my BMI matter in the first place?

Knowing your BMI will help your healthcare team understand what alternatives are available to you, especially if your BMI is higher than 30 and you want to improve your health. For instance, if you are thinking of taking weight-loss aiding medications or an eating-replacement program that is medically monitored that you have to have an BMI greater than 30. In order to undergo bariatric surgery, your BMI is required to be higher than 40. However, there are some exceptions for those with an BMI that is between 30 and 40.

"BMI is a baseline measurement to help dictate where we go in terms of what kind of plan or program is most appropriate for a patient," Birkel states. "The number is not meant to define someone's health. It's meant to guide their care where it needs to go."