BMI chart can be the right tool to use if you want to measure or know your height and weight. It is important to understand if you’re healthy through your height and weight.
This chart is designed for people over 18 years old, both men and women.
What Is BMI Stand For?
BMI or body mass index is the number or the result in determining your body mass by using your weight and height.
There is a specific weight appropriate to your height and age. If the result is above the recommended value, you are overweight. Otherwise, you’re underweight.
How To Interpret Your BMI?
Do you know how to interpret the number of your BMI?
The first thing to do is locate your height in the column and look for the corresponding number of your weight. There’s a number and color inside the box.
The number inside the box corresponds to your real body mass index while the color indicates whether the result of your BMI fits to healthy, overweight or underweight range.
If the BMI value is below 18.5, it is under the category of underweight. If the BMI value ranges between 18.5 to 25, it is considered healthy, while BMI value more than 25 is overweight.
If the BMI value is more than 30, it is under the category of obesity and morbid obesity if the BMI value is 40 and above.
To maintain a healthy weight, you should eat a healthy and balanced diet as well as do regular exercise. Adults should stay active for about 2 hours every week.
On the hand, obesity or overweight can make you at risk of developing diseases including type 2 diabetes, stroke and heart disease. That’s why as soon as you notice that you’re gaining weight, you should take measure your BMI. You should take immediate action depending on your BMI value.
Who Should Use The BMI Chart?
As mentioned above, the BMI chart is designed for people 18 years old and above.
However, if you have lots of muscle, you should expect that your BMI value isn’t accurate. It’s because your muscle buildup can put you under overweight or obese category.
Ideal Weight Chart
| Height | Weight | ||
| Normal | Overweight | Obese | |
| 4' 10" | 91 to 118 lbs. | 119 to 142 lbs. | 143 to 186 lbs. |
| 4' 11" | 94 to 123 lbs. | 124 to 147 lbs. | 148 to 193 lbs. |
| 5' | 97 to 127 lbs. | 128 to 152 lbs. | 153 to 199 lbs. |
| 5' 1" | 100 to 131 lbs. | 132 to 157 lbs. | 158 to 206 lbs. |
| 5' 2" | 104 to 135 lbs. | 136 to 163 lbs. | 164 to 213 lbs. |
| 5' 3" | 107 to 140 lbs. | 141 to 168 lbs. | 169 to 220 lbs. |
| 5' 4" | 110 to 144 lbs. | 145 to 173 lbs. | 174 to 227 lbs. |
| 5' 5" | 114 to 149 lbs. | 150 to 179 lbs. | 180 to 234 lbs. |
| 5' 6" | 118 to 154 lbs. | 155 to 185 lbs. | 186 to 241 lbs. |
| 5' 7" | 121 to 158 lbs. | 159 to 190 lbs. | 191 to 249 lbs. |
| 5' 8" | 125 to 163 lbs. | 164 to 196 lbs. | 197 to 256 lbs. |
| 5' 9" | 128 to 168 lbs. | 169 to 202 lbs. | 203 to 263 lbs. |
| 5' 10" | 132 to 173 lbs. | 174 to 208 lbs. | 209 to 271 lbs. |
| 5' 11" | 136 to 178 lbs. | 179 to 214 lbs. | 215 to 279 lbs. |
| 6' | 140 to 183 lbs. | 184 to 220 lbs. | 221 to 287 lbs. |
| 6' 1" | 144 to 188 lbs. | 189 to 226 lbs. | 227 to 295 lbs. |
| 6' 2" | 148 to 193 lbs. | 194 to 232 lbs. | 233 to 303 lbs. |
| 6' 3" | 152 to 199 lbs. | 200 to 239 lbs. | 240 to 311 lbs. |
| 6' 4" | 156 to 204 lbs. | 205 to 245 lbs. | 246 to 320 lbs. |
| BMI | 19 to 24 | 25 to 29 | 30 to 39 |
Source: National Institutes of Health
Health Information Obtained Through BMI
Both the low and elevated BMI value are signs of health issues. This means that using BMI chart can give you information about your health condition particularly those weight related issues.
Obviously, if you’re too thin, there’s great possibility that you’re at risk for muscle loss, nutritional deficiencies and other problems.
Obesity makes a person at risk of serious and deadly health problems including diabetes, arthritis, high blood pressure, high cholesterol levels, cancer, gallbladder dysfunction, sleep apnea and heart disease.
While BMI chart is effective on determining health issues that are weight related, it can’t tell you about the body fat percentage. In fact, an athlete who is heavily muscled may don’t have high body fat percentage, but may have high BMI value.
It’s because BMI doesn’t consider the muscle mass, age and gender of an individual. The chart can’t determine the fat mass and lean body mass. Older people may obtain normal BMI value in spite of the fact of muscle loss due to aging.
Likewise, even if you have normal BMI value, you should be aware that you may have visceral fat that makes you at risk of heart attack. Also, it does not consider about the accumulation of fat in various body parts.
The BMI value is not accurate among healthy body weight and size considering the sex-based and race-based differences.
BMI gives you a clear idea about your weight and how it affects your general health. You can determine your body mass, but it provides limited information pertaining to your health. Thus, BMI is just a general guide in determining the weight health, but it can’t guarantee about your overall health.
Janice Thompson is a nutritionist. She loves to share her healthy lifestyle and diet tips.
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