A hot topic in the global health industry is whether BMI is a good and reliable indicator of health. The BMI (Body Health Index) is a great health indicator used in loads of countries and ethnicities to determine a healthy weight.
However, what exactly does BMI indicate? Is it really accurate? Can you trust the results produced by BMI? Health professionals all over the world make use of BMI, but experts have loads of questions about how it works.
Here is everything you need to know about what makes BMI a good indicator of health:
BMI stands for body health index. It measures the amount of fat in an individual’s body.
The results produced from a BMI can tell you the ideal weight for your health, depending on your height and ethnicity.
The formula to determine BMI is an individual’s weight in kilograms divided by their height in meters squared. This means:
Original BMI formula: BMI= Weight (kg) / Height (m)2
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For example, to calculate the BMI of someone whose weight is 60 kg and height is 152 cm, you will divide 60 by 1.65^2= 200
The original metric BMI formula (metric-system) does not use cm when considering height. Instead, it uses meters. When using imperial units, the original metric BMI formula is modified by a factor for tall conversion and weight reasons.
The BMI formula in the Imperial System is= 703 * Weight (lbs.) / Height (inches) ²
Absolutely. Health care professionals use BMI to gauge a patient’s risk of diseases related to obesity, such as diabetes. Doctors understand that BMI needs to be calculated according to the BMI benchmark for certain ethnicities based on an individual’s health. Adjustments are needed if an individual is shorter or taller than average or has uncommon muscle bulk.
However, people forget to consider these factors and end up drawing an incorrect BMI reading. Due to this, some individuals do not trust BMI and its readings.
Given that the BMI result is calculated properly and adjusted based on an individual’s overall health, genes, and ethnicity, it is a good indicator of health.
To ensure that your BMI calculation is correct, it is important to compare the results with the BMI benchmark based on ethnicities.
For example, a BMI of 18 might be considered problematic for some ethnicities but is considered to be the average BMI for Asian women.
Depending on the weight and height of the individual and the data accuracy, anyone can use the BMI calculator to understand their Body Mass Index.
However, the BMI results must be calculated appropriately. Before you label BMI as a great health indicator, you must learn how to interpret the results appropriately.
There is a lot of debate over how trustworthy BMI is as a calculator of overall health, weight, and fitness.
What makes BMI a great health indicator is not the calculation but how it is adjusted depending on ethnicity, height, and weight. This is what makes it a reliable and trustworthy calculator of health.
