BMI is a simple and inexpensive way to determine if a person has a healthy body weight. It uses a standardized formula based on height and weight to calculate body fat percentage. However, it has been criticized for not considering other factors and not working well for athletes with high lean muscle.
Body mass index, also known as BMI, is a number that, for most people, accurately represents their percentage of body fat. While there are several methods for measuring body fat, a body mass index chart is an easy and inexpensive way for adults and children to determine if they have a healthy body weight. The table simply uses a person’s height and weight to calculate a percentage of body fat using a standardized formula.
Using a body mass index chart is simple. Many charts take the form of a grid with height measurements on the left side and weights on the top. A person, or their doctor, just needs to find their height and weight on the grid, which will then point to their BMI number. A BMI less than 18.5 is underweight, between 18.5-24.9 is normal, 25-29.9 is overweight, and a BMI greater than 30 is considered obese.
There are different BMI charts for men, women, and children, each scaled to the average height and weight for each gender and age group. The formula to determine the body mass index depends on the measurement system used. To determine a percentage using metric weights, the Body Mass Index graph will show the results of the body weight in kilograms, which is then divided by the individual’s height in meters. The resulting number is squared. In countries where pounds and inches are used, the percentage is determined by dividing the pounds by the individual’s height in inches. This number is squared and multiplied by 703. This formula is used for all three BMI tables.
The entire notion of body mass index has been criticized by some within the fitness and medical communities. Some argue that a BMI chart doesn’t work well for fitness buffs or serious athletes with a high percentage of lean muscle. This is because the body mass index does not actually measure an individual’s body fat, but rather estimates the percentage of body fat based on a mathematical formula.
Another criticism is that some health professionals place too much emphasis on the percentage without considering other factors, such as genetics, lifestyle habits, stress, and previous medical history. The US Centers for Disease Control acknowledges these shortcomings and notes that the body mass index chart should not be the only criteria used to determine whether someone is at a healthy body weight or at risk for the disease.
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