by Tammy Frost

Created on: August 12, 2009   Last Updated: August 14, 2009

BMI is a mathematical way of calculating if a person is overweight, or underweight. Most medical professionals use this method to determine the health risks and diet plans for their patients.

What does BMI stand for and how is it calculated? BMI stands for, Body Mass Index! To calculate a person's BMI, you will need to know the person's height and weight. First calculate their height in inches, let's say a person is six feet tall. Six times twelve ( there is12 inches in one foot) equals 72 inches. What is the square root of 72? Seventy two times seventy two equals 5,184 .

Take the weight of the person and divide it by the square root of their height, then times that amount by 703 to calculate a person's BMI. If a person is 6 foot tall and weighs 200 pounds, then this is how the BMI formula would look: 200 divided by 5,184 multiplied by 703 equals 27.12. Their body mass index (BMI) would be 27.12.

Most experts consider a healthy BMI to be between 18.5-24.9, overweight is between 25-29.9, and obese weight is calculated at 30 BMI.

Just as the Wall street Journal pointed out: Is it fair to say that if a male is 6 foot tall and weighs 200 pounds that he is overweight? BMI calculations do not include waist size, muscle mass, age, gender, health, family, or exercise history. Here is a quote from an spokesperson of American Dietetic Association, ''I think BMI is a very good and easy screening tool."

BMI doesn't matter considering a professional weight lifter would be calculated as over weight. As well as an elderly lady being considered underweight because she doesn't have the strength to exercise anymore and has lost her muscle mass. Measuring your waist with a bendable tape measure would be the ideal and correct method of seeing if a person is over or under weight. Visit your healthcare provider to find out what your average weight measurement should be.

Taking a look at facts about a person is really what counts when you want to see if you are underweight or overweight. To determine if you are under or overweight, look at your health history and problems. Do you have high blood pressure, is your blood sugar at the correct level? What is your daily activities? Do you lay around the house eating junk food and never exercise? What does your diet consist of? Do you make healthy choices such as smoking or drinking alcohol too much? Choices that you make in life affect your weight gain or loss. A person who chooses bad habits are more likely to become overweight

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