BMI ( Body mass index)
BMI or body mass index is a value that is collected from the height and mass of a person. For calculating the BMI of a person we divide the body mass by the square of the body height and we express BMI in units of kg/m2, resulting from mass in kilograms and height in meters. We use BMI to measure the total body fat of a person whether he is healthy or not.
How BMI is used:
BMI can be a diagnostic tool, but it does not test obesity or a person's health. To determine if BMI is harmful to health, the health care provider performs another test. Such tests include skin thickness, diet tests, exercise, and family history.
Why BMI is used:
For calculating BMI we require only length and weight so BMI is an inexpensive and simple tool. We will identify a formula based on pounds and meters or pounds and inches.
For children and teens:
BMI is interpreted differently in children and adolescents, although we can calculate it by using the same method as adult BMI. Calculating the BMI of children and adolescents needs to be age-appropriate and gender-based because body fat levels change with age and body fat levels vary between girls and boys with age. Obesity in the 2 to 19-year-old is defined as having a higher BMI or 95 percent of children of the same age and the same sex in the population. For example, a middle-aged boy (56 inches) weighing 102 pounds may have a BMI of 22.9 kg / m2. This will put the boy in the 95th percentage of the BMI of that child, meaning his BMI is higher than that of the 95% of boys and young men in this population - and he will be considered overweight.
Importance of BMI for body fitness:
As we know that BMI is very important for our body fitness and to remain healthy. If a man and woman have the same BMI then the woman has more body fat than the man. At the same BMI, they may have a different amount of fat on the upper or lower body. Older people of the same BMI have more body weight than adults. Athletes of the same BMI would have more body fat than non-athletes.
