What does this mean? Check out your BMI in this table:
What does this number mean? Check out this table to find where your BMI falls:
| If your BMI is: | You are classified as: | And your risk of health problems is: |
|---|---|---|
| Less than 18.5 | underweight | some risk |
| 18.5 to 24.99 | normal weight | least risk |
| 25 to 29.99 | overweight | increased risk |
| 30 and over | obese | high risk |
Body mass index or BMI is a mathematical assessment of the density of our bodies. It doesn’t distinguish between muscle or fat or water, and isn’t useful for pregnant or lactating women, athletes, body builders, elderly people or people of Asian and Indian descent, extreme under- or over-weight, people under 18 years of age, and those shorter than 150cm or taller than 190cm.
So, what is BMI good for? It is a predictor of health risk and is quite useful in some populations.
If you are actively trying to lose weight and gain muscle BMI isn’t a really good number for comparison measures.
But it is really good to reflect on your BMI along with your Waist to Hip Ratio and Waist Circumference. You can calculate your Waist to Hip Ratio here.
If these measures are all high, then you are at high risk of developing a chronic condition. It’s time to get cracking on that healthy lifestyle!
Need help to improve your BMI? Contact Dale for coaching now!