This measurement is considered to be one of the simplest and
best for assessing overweight. It is low-cost, low-tech, and easy. There are
also many websites that will calculate BMI for you after figures for weight and
height are entered. Of course, you can do the calculations yourself, using the
following formula:
BMI = [ Weight in pounds_____ ] x 703
(Height in inches) x (Height in inches)
Any adult with a BMI of over 25, regardless of gender or
age, is considered to be overweight. For children aged 2-20 years, BMI is
correlated to both age and gender (more information is available at the CDC’s
National Center for Health Statistics www..cdc.gov/nchs
A higher BMI doesn’t necessarily
mean excessively fat, but it has been shown that the risk of disease is
proportional to higher BMIs. A more complete assessment can be obtained by
using a more direct measurement for body fat, in conjunction with BMI.