Research has shown that being overweight contributes to the onset of:. The goal is to have a diet and exercise program that will help you reach your goal weight and maintain a healthy body weight. Subscribe Donate. Health Topics. A normal BMI ranges from To see the formula based on either kilograms and meters or pounds and inches, visit How is BMI calculated? Other methods to measure body fatness include skinfold thickness measurements with calipers , underwater weighing, bioelectrical impedance, dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry DXA , and isotope dilution 1,2,3.
However, these methods are not always readily available, and they are either expensive or need to be conducted by highly trained personnel. Furthermore, many of these methods can be difficult to standardize across observers or machines, complicating comparisons across studies and time periods. BMI is calculated the same way for both adults and children. The calculation is based on the following formulas:. With the metric system, the formula for BMI is weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared.
Because height is commonly measured in centimeters, divide height in centimeters by to obtain height in meters. Calculate BMI by dividing weight in pounds lbs by height in inches in squared and multiplying by a conversion factor of For adults 20 years old and older, BMI is interpreted using standard weight status categories.
These categories are the same for men and women of all body types and ages. BMI is interpreted differently for children and teens, even though it is calculated using the same formula as adult BMI.
These percentiles were determined using representative data of the U. Obesity among 2- to year-olds is defined as a BMI at or above the 95 th percentile of children of the same age and sex in this to reference population.
For example, a year-old boy of average height 56 inches who weighs pounds would have a BMI of For adults, the interpretation of BMI does not depend on sex or age. Read more about interpreting adult BMI. The correlation between the BMI and body fatness is fairly strong 1,2,3,7 , but even if two people have the same BMI, their level of body fatness may differ The accuracy of BMI as an indicator of body fatness also appears to be higher in persons with higher levels of BMI and body fatness While, a person with a very high BMI e.
However, athletes may have a high BMI because of increased muscularity rather than increased body fatness. Your doctor might use other factors including waist size, blood sugar levels, and other tests to find out if your weight might pose a health risk.
If your BMI result does show that you are overweight, consider making some lifestyle changes. The American Cancer Society medical and editorial content team.
Our team is made up of doctors and oncology certified nurses with deep knowledge of cancer care as well as journalists, editors, and translators with extensive experience in medical writing. Receive lifestyle tips each month to stay well and help lower your cancer risk.
Sign up for the Healthy Living newsletter. American Cancer Society news stories are copyrighted material and are not intended to be used as press releases. Virtua registered dietitians offer private and group weight-loss coaching options to help you achieve a healthy lifestyle. Jeanne Hendricks, dietitian with Virtua, explains the secret ingredient you can swap into some of your favorite foods that will reduce calories and fat but won't lose flavor.
You may also like. Read More. By: Jeanne Hendricks Quick Tip: The Secret Ingredient To Weight Loss Jeanne Hendricks, dietitian with Virtua, explains the secret ingredient you can swap into some of your favorite foods that will reduce calories and fat but won't lose flavor.
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