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What is BMI?
By Cindy | July 8, 2007
Does BMI stand for Baby Moves In. That’s how I feel when I look at my body, but alas, BMI stands for Body Mass Indicator. The BMI uses height and weight to determine approximate body fat levels. It’s a simple assessment that doesn’t require gadgets. There are many views on the validity of the BMI. This calculator provided by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention will calculate the BMI. In general, it works, but it is not a direct determination of actual body fat percent.
As listed in the CDC: The standard weight status categories associated with BMI ranges for adults are shown in the following table.
| BMI | Weight Status |
|---|---|
| Below 18.5 | Underweight |
| 18.5 – 24.9 | Normal |
| 25.0 – 29.9 | Overweight |
| 30.0 and Above | Obese |
Another method with an approximate 5 % error of margin is Body Composition Assessment used by the U.S. Navy. For women, the measurements used are height, hip (largest point), waist and neck measurements. This calculator provides you the means to determine your body fat percentage with reliability.
For men, the measurements used are height, hip (think large, include the caboose), waist (natural, smallest point between belly button and breastbone) and neck (sloping, toward hairline).
I recommend focusing on the Body Composition Assessment percentages. They are more realistic in accounting for your actually body fat. Well, there’s no better time than the present to face the numbers.
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Topics: Health Knowledge |
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