Body Fat Index (BMI)
Body Fat Index (BMI) provides vital information about the possible state of your health and body metabolism. BMI has been the medical standard for obesity measurement since the early 1980's when government researchers developed it to take height into account in weight measurement.
Body Mass Index = Weight(kg) / Height(m)^2
BMI is a reliable indicator of total body fat, which is related to the risk of disease and death. The score is valid for both men and women but it does have some limits. The limits are:
- It may overestimate body fat in athletes and others who have a muscular build.
- It may underestimate body fat in older persons and others who have lost muscle mass.
Critical health risks may begin with a BMI of 25. Researchers say that, as BMI increases, blood pressure and total cholesterol levels also rise, along with the increased possibility of serious illnesses such as diabetes, heart disease, breast cancer, prostate cancer, colon cancer, and several other debilitating life-threatening diseases.
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