subject: Body Mass Index for Women [print this page] Body Mass Index for Women Body Mass Index for Women
Your BMI, or Body Mass Index, is an indication of how healthy you are and whether you have too much body fat in relation to your height. Calculating your BMI is a great way to get an overview of whether you have a good height/weight ratio. If your BMI is high there is more risk of you facing weight-related health problems such as Type-2 Diabetes, heart disease, and stroke and sustaining a healthy BMI is one of several ways you can keep an eye on your health and reduce any risk of future issues.
The Body Mass Index for women is actually calculated and judged in exactly the same way as it is for men, so you can see why it is only considered an indication and not the final word on body fat. To calculate your BMI, all you need is your weight in kilos and your height in meters. Take your weight and divide it by your height multiplied by itself. For example, if you are 1.8 meters tall and weigh 75 kilos, you divide 75 by 3.24 (1.8 multiplied by 1.8). The result - and your BMI - is 23.14.
A healthy BMI range for women is between 20 and 25. Below 20 and above 18.5 you don't have much to worry about, but if your BMI falls below 18.5 you are considered underweight. 25 to 30 is considered overweight, and anything over 30 is obese.
Legally, you're an adult at 18, but BMI calculations don't deem you an adult until you're 20. Women under twenty can calculate their BMI in the same way, but the healthy ranges are slightly different and change depending on your age.
If your BMI doesn't fall into the healthy range it doesn't necessarily mean you are over or under weight. If you have a lot of muscle or are older, your Body Mass Index may not be completely accurate. This is because the BMI is a generic tool that was developed for groups of people rather than individuals, and isn't specific to age, body type or sex. If your BMI seems too high or too low and it worries you, you should consider getting a more accurate analysis of your body fat percentage from a health professional.
The Body Mass Index for women is a great tool if you want an overview of your health and to monitor changes in your body fat, but it shouldn't be the only indicator you use. If your BMI is not within the healthy range, you can take steps to improve your health, including following a good weight loss or weight gain plan.
