The Body Mass Index or BMI as it is more commonly referred to, was first developed in the early 19th century by Adolphe Quetelet of Belgium. It is for this reason that the BMI is also known as the Quetelet Index.
The BMI is usually used to estimate and determine whether a person is within the proper range of healthy weight that he has to be on based on his height. By using the BMI, physicians can objectively diagnose if the patient is within the normal range of body weight, if he is underweight, or if he is overweight. They could also make further classifications such as obesity or make a diagnosis about a person having an eating disorder.
You can easily determine your own Body Mass Index with the use of a BMI chart. If you don’t have a chart, you can easily figure out your body mass index by using the following formula: divide your weight by the square of your height (you should use kilograms for weight and meters for height). You can also use any of the several widgets that you can download over the internet. Simply type in your weight and your height and the program calculates your BMI for you.
Once you have determined your Body Mass Index, you can then ascertain if you are underweight, in optimal weight, or overweight in relation to your height. A Body Mass Index of less than 18.5 but greater than 17.5 conveys that you are probably underweight, try to add some more weight by adding more fruit to your diet and also by allowing yourself more time for rest. A BMI of over 25 but fewer than 30 on the other hand, suggests that you are overweight. Try to include more exercise into your daily routine. A few more minutes of brisk walking every day would help you in a big way. You should also watch what you eat. Try to cut down on the fatty, greasy foods that might be on your diet. Finally, if your computation of your Body Mass Index results in a value that falls anywhere between 18.5 and 25, this means that you are probably in the best weight that you could be in. All you have to do is maintain your current weight and you will already be increasing your chances of staying in good health.
If however, you get a Body Mass Index of less than 17.5, this could mean that you are suffering from anorexia nervosa or some other form of eating disorder. This could be an indication that you have a problematic eating habit that prevents you from taking in the right amount of food. This could seriously jeopardize your health so it is recommended that you seek the help of a health professional immediately.
On the other hand, if you determine that your Body Mass Index is above 30, this could mean that you are already obese. This could imply that you have already accumulated an immoderate amount of body fat in your body. Having too much fat could negatively impact your health and increase your risks of developing a number of diseases such as heart disease and diabetes. Try to lose weight if you have a Body Mass Index in this threshold. Consult your doctor and find out the options you have in getting your body into better shape.
