The body mass index (BMI) is a measure that uses your height and weight to work out if your weight is healthy.

Learning how much you should weigh is one part of it, but it also includes knowing the amount of bone, muscle, and fat in your body.

The amount of fat is the most important measurement.

A good way to know how much fat you have is the body mass index (BMI).

It is not a perfect measure. But it gives a fairly good idea of how much of your body is fat. Your body may vary based on your age or ethnicity.

The most accurate way to find your BMI is to have your BMI measured by an exercise specialist or doctor.

Your provider can also talk with you about your risks for health problems.

The BMI calculation divides an adult’s weight in kilograms by their height in metres squared.

The BMI broadly categorises a person as underweight, normal weight, overweight, or obese based on tissue mass and height.

Although BMI is often criticised for being too generic, it is actually a very simple tool providing a simple numeric measure of a person’s thickness or thinness, which allows health professionals to discuss weight problems more objectively with their patients.

BMI was designed to be used as a simple means of classifying average sedentary (physically inactive) populations.

18.5 to 24.9 kg/m2 may indicate optimal weight,
lower than 18.5 may indicate underweight,
25 to 29.9 may indicate overweight and 30 or more may indicate obese.

Lean male athletes often have a high muscle-to-fat ratio and therefore a BMI that is misleadingly high relative to their body-fat percentage.

BMIs under 20 and over 25 have been associated with higher risks of mortality, with that risk increasing with distance from the 20-25 range.

BMI ratio has been subjected to a lot of criticism over the past few decades as being inaccurate, but study after study has shown that if you are in those risk categories then your risk of developing those life threatening diseases are much greater then if you’re in that 18-24 range. Plus, it is still the main health measurement used by most health care professionals.

However there is the waist hip ratio or WHR – another health measurement where we compare the difference between your waist and hip circumference. This is a much more accurate determinate of heart risk, fertility and other health issues.

How to lower BMI or WHR?

  • Get better sleep, 7-8 hours a night.
  • Consume fewer calories than you burn. Be in a calorie deficit.
  • Keep a food diary. Write down everything you eat and drink. Hold yourself accountable with this.
  • Become more active. This doesn’t take much, you just need to start. Walking is a great way to increase your movement.
  • Drink more water.
  • Stop snacking.

Get in touch and I’ll help you come up with a plan.