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Heart Disease Prevention - Determining Your Body Mass Index
Determining how much you should weigh is not a simple matter of looking at an insurance height-weight chart, but includes considering the amount of bone, muscle, and fat in your body's composition. The amount of fat is the critical measurement.
A good indicator of how much fat you carry is the Body Mass Index (BMI). Although it is not a perfect measure, it gives a fairly accurate assessment of how much of your body is composed of fat.
BMI can be calculated using pounds and inches.
BMI = (Weight in Pounds x 703) / (Height in Inches x Height in Inches)
For example, a person who weighs 165 pounds and is 5 feet 4 inches tall has a BMI of 28.
(165 lbs x 703) / (64 inches x 64 inches) = 28
BMI can be calculated using kilograms and meters.
BMI = Weight in Kilograms / (Height in Meters x Height in Meters)
For example, a person who weighs 99.79 Kilograms and is 1.905 Meters tall has a BMI of 27.5.
99.79 Kg / (1.905 Meters x 1.905 Meters)= 27.5
A BMI between 25 and 29 is considered overweight. Anything over 30 is considered obese.
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Date Last Reviewed: 12/31/2007
This information should not be considered specific medical advice, may not cover all situations, and is not meant to replace professional medical service. If you have any questions or concerns, contact your physician.
