Body Mass Index

My Body Mass Index is 23.0

What does this mean? 

Body Mass Index (BMI) is a measure of body fat based on height and weight that applies to both adult men and women.  It is the measurement of coice for many physicians and researchers studying obesity.  BMI uses a mathematical formula that takes into account both a person's height and weight.  BMI equals a person's weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared. 

 
If your BMI is <18.5, this means you are underweight.
If your BMI is between 18.5 to 24.9, then you have a normal weight.
If your BMI is between 25 to 29.9, you are obviously overweight.
But if your BMI is 30 or geater, this means that you are obese.

 
The higher the BMI, the greater the risk of developing additional health problems.  Heart disease, diabetes and high blood pressure are all linked to being overweight. A BMI of 30 and over increases the risk of death from any cause by 50 to 150 percent, according to some estimates.

According to health experts, people who are overweight but have no other health risk factors (such as high cholesterol or high blood pressure) should eat healthier and exercise to keep from gaining additional weight. For people who are overweight and also have health risks, they recommend trying to actively lose weight. Be sure to consult your doctor or other health professional before beginning any exercise or weight-loss program.

 
You can use the Body Mass Index Calculator to compute your BMI.