The BMI Calculator and Alternative Methods For Monitoring Weight ...

The Body Mass Index (BMI) chart helps you to determine if your weight is normal, too low, or too high. It measures your weight in accordance with your height and gives you an idea of your ideal weight range. Basically, adults enter their weight and height into a BMI calculator, and the resulting number is the BMI score. A BMI that is below 18.5 places a person in the underweight range, a BMI of 18.5 to 24.9 is within the normal weight range, a BMI of 25 to 29.9 is within the overweight range, and BMI of 30 or higher is within the obese range. Body mass index is evaluated in a different manner for children, and it is not accurate for people who are very muscular or who have very little muscle. This is because body muscle weighs more than body fat.

There are some alternatives to the BMI calculator. The waist circumference measurement method involves measuring the natural waistline, which can give people an indication of how much abdominal fat they actually have. Measuring waist circumference can also assist health professionals in figuring out if a person is at risk for developing heart disease or other medical conditions, according to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. Women who have a waist circumference of 35 inches or greater and men who have a waist circumference of 40 inches or greater are considered to be in the high-risk range.

The waist-to-hip ratio is another way of determining if a person is at risk for acquiring high blood pressure, diabetes, and heart disease. In order to figure out what your waist-to- hip ratio is, you need to measure your natural waistline as well as the widest area of the hips. After these measurements are determined, you need to divide your waist measurement by your hip measurement. A ratio of.95 or less for men and.80 or less for women is considered to be low risk for the conditions listed above. A ratio of.96 to 1.0 for men and.81 to.85 for women is considered to be moderate risk. Any number above the moderate risk ratio is considered to be high risk.

The body fat measurement method involves measuring fat at four different locations ? the waist, triceps, biceps, and shoulder blade. After all these measurements are taken, you need to add them all together to find the total, which is expressed in millimeters. The higher your body fat, the more likely you are to develop obesity-related conditions.

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