BMI Calculator

A persons' health can be determiner with a Body Mass Index (BMI) calculator which uses a ratio of weight and height.

A BMI calculator provides a fairly reliable indicator of body fatness for most people and is used to screen for weight categories that may lead to health problems.

The BMI calculator is used as a screening tool to identify possible weight problems for adults. The formula is [weight (kg) / [height (m)]2 This is not a fail safe formula. A person may have a high reading but to determine if excess weight is a health risk, a healthcare provider would need to perform further assessments. These assessments might include skin fold thickness measurements, family history, evaluations of diet, and physical activity.

A BMI calculator is only one factor is measuring the risk for disease. Other factors include waist circumference, high blood pressure and physical inactivity.

Some other factors must also be considered when using this method. For example:

• At the same reading, women tend to have more body fat than men.
  
  
• At the same reading older people, on average, tend to have more body fat than younger adults.
  
  
• Highly trained athletes may have a high reading because of increased muscularity rather than increased body fatness.

It is important to look at all measure for good health when you are doing an assessment. Overweight and obese individuals are at risk for many diseases and health conditions.