What is the Body Mass Index (BMI) and what does it say about your weight

If you have ever been interested in watching your weight, you have surely found that there is something called Body Mass Index (BMI) and almost every discussion of nutrition , diet and weight includes references to it. Therefore, there are a number of things you should know about the BMI and here we will tell you about them.

The Body Mass Index is the result of a formula designed to determine and categorize the weight of people. The oldest record of its use is in a 1835 work by the Frenchman Alphonse Quetelet. There are currently two variants of the formula for calculating BMI :

Using measurements in kilograms and meters: weight (kg) / height (m)2

If your weight is 70 kilograms and you are 180 centimeters tall, the operation is as follows:

BMI: 70 / [(180/100)2]

BMI: 70 / [(1.8)2]

BMI: 70 / 3.24

BMI: 21.6

Using measurements in pounds and inches: [weight (lb) / height (in)2] x 703

Taking the equivalences of the previous example, the operation is as follows

BMI: [154.32 / (70.872)] x 703

BMI: (154.32 / 5022.56) x 703

BMI: 0.03 x 703

BMI: 21.6

As you can see, the result is the same. To find out what the BMI says about your weight , the next step is to locate your result among the different categories that are conventionally accepted:

To be more exact, the Body Mass Index reflects a ratio between your weight and your height . It is true that Health and Medical Sciences have identified important and statistically strong relationships between categories I, III and IV and multiple health conditions with varying severity . Inferences that go beyond this lack sufficient foundation. In fact, it is controversial to what extent social attitudes towards weight , and indirectly towards BMI , have been distorted and intertwined with stigmas, prejudices and behaviors that are detrimental to physical and psychological well-being. In fact, it is often forgotten that the problem is not weight but the risk of disease .

To conclude, keep in mind that the Body Mass Index is an important indicator but not absolute or sufficient by itself. Much more information is required to determine a person 's health status . If this topic arouses your curiosity and you want to improve the work you do to change your weight , we strongly recommend receiving professional support ; In this way, it is more likely that you will receive advice according to the characteristics and needs of your case .