Understand the BMI calculator

How long has been known the BMI calculator? The notion of “body mass index” dates to the 19th century, although it was found in 1972. Ancel Keys figured out that this calculator is the best tool to calculate with proximity the body fat percentage among weight and height. In the wealth Western country the measurement of the body fat has become a very important issue, mainly due to the problem of obesity. It was appropriate question for population studies. Being so simple to calculate, it has become used for individual diagnosis.

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What has this index help for professional doctors? It provided due its simplicity to determine whether a patient is thin or fat and also made possible for doctors to discuss over the problem of weight loss more objectively. For the individuals the values are 18.5 to 25, which indicate the optimal weight. Those whose values are under 18.5 mean that there are underweight; while over 25 the person is overweight. If the score is 17.5, the person has anorexia nervosa or a disorder related to it. Over 30 indicate the person is obese, over 40 morbidly obese. For a given high the BMI is proportional to a weight. Have you heard about BMI Prime yet? This is a modification of BMI system. It is also defined as BMI 25. It is nothing else but a ratio of two BMI values, the Prime is a dimensionless number. Persons with BMI Prime under 0.74 are underweight, those at 1.00 are overweight, while between 0.74 and 0.99 have optimal weight. It is useful because patients can tell how much they depart from the upper weight limits. How does in practice this look like? Individuals with BMI 34 have BMI Prime of 1.36, which means 34/25. This BMI Prime is ideal to compare populations whose upper limit BMI score differ a lot.

The frequent use of it helps individuals differ in view of body weight from what is normal for a person of the height. The deficiency of excess of weight may account for body fat, although the muscularity may affect the BMI index significantly. The BMI chart shows, that the score under 18.5 may be the sign of eating disorders and malnutrition, and above 30 is considered obese.

The body mass index is also useful in health institution but also for individuals. People can calculate their score even on the Internet; they don’t need any doctor help or professional collaboration. Are you interested in your values? Do not hesitate calculate BMI with BMI calculator!