We lead a lifestyle that is propelled by stress, unhealthy eating habits and just an unhealthy weight in general. It could be that a person is overweight or obese or even underweight. Owing to the constant string of stress and the pressure that we build around ourselves, the same does have impacts on our body mass index.
Many people aren’t aware of the basics surrounding Body Mass Index (BMI) and the charts that indicate the kind of healthy weight that a person should have depending on their height and their age. Having a clear idea of the BMI can ensure that you have a healthy lifestyle and have proper regulation for your weight that reduce the risks of diseases and other health complications.
In here, we are going to be discussing about the BMI charts and everything that you basically need to know about BMI in general and how it can help you lead a healthy lifestyle.
What is BMI?
Before anything, it is important for one to know what BMI entails. BMI, otherwise known as the Body Mass Index is a value which is perceived from the mass as well as the height of an individual.
Knowing this value lets you compare it with the standard charts available to check whether you are healthy and normal in terms of your weight or are categorized into the overweight and obese category or the underweight category.
Having too much weight or even less can impose health risks, which is why knowing your BMI is important. If you don’t seem satisfied with the results of the BMI, there are other available alternatives like the measurement of the waist to hip ratio and the waist to height ratio which further helps with the condition even more.
BMI is actually considered a good starting point for you to assess through the things.
What are the BMI categories?
As we did mention before, BMI gives you a value with the calculation of the weight and the height which is then compared to the standard BMI charts that are available. Before we talk about the charts, the next thing that is important to note are the available BMI categories.
Based on the scientific divisions, the BMI categories are divided into four different sections.
1. Below 18.5 (Underweight)
2. In between 18.5 to 24.9 (Healthy and Normal)
3. In between 25 to 29.9 (Overweight)
4. Over 30 (Obese)
When it comes to BMI charts, the same is standardized based on the height and the weight of an individual.
The mentioned figures are based on what the ideal weight of a person should be with respect to their height as well as their age. Since the metabolism of the body slows down with aging, there are chances that the people might have an increased BMI during their old age. But, that is a different case.
To help you get a better idea about the BMI Charts, we have sorted through the best available charts on the Internet to get a clarified idea.
Before comparing your BMI value with the BMI chart, it is necessary that you get your BMI value done accurately. For this, you need to find your weight in pounds along with your height in feet and inches.
The chart that we have mentioned down includes the weight horizontally while the height has been mentioned vertically. Once you know what your height and your weight is, you can check for your corresponding BMI value and see for yourself whether you are underweight, healthy, overweight or obese.
Having a clear idea of your BMI can help you plan your lifestyle accordingly. If you are finding that the levels of the BMI in the red zones, it is important to consult the doctor immediately and get the much needed help for the same.
What is the BMI chart like in the children and teens?
When it comes to the standard BMI chart, you will find that majority of them are meant for the adults, hence why the height start along from 4’9” and such.
So, what about the children and teens? Do they not require the BMI chart and the standard BMI calculations?
When it comes to the kids, the area of assessment isn’t the same like that of the adults. While the adult BMI is measured with respect to the height and the weight, the same isn’t the case with kids. Their BMI is measured on the basis of their age and gender.
To counteract this problem, the BMI is counted on the basis of percentile and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has made a standard one to look into.
According to the CDC, the BMI assessment for the kids includes:
- If the BMI is less that 5th percentile, the kid is underweight.
- If the BMI is between 5th to 85th percentile, the kid is healthy.
- If the BMI is between 85th to 95th percentile, the kid is overweight.
- If the BMI is over 95th percentile, the kid is obese.
The BMI charts for the children and teen have been showcased below:
Can having an unhealthy BMI affect one’s health?
Our weight is one of the most common biomarkers of our well-being. Irrespective of whether you are overweight or underweight, the same is bound to end up affecting your overall well-being in the long haul.
While being underweight starts affecting the functioning of the organs and causes hormonal imbalance, being overweight or obesity can end up enhancing the risks of a certain number of chronic diseases like diabetes and affected thyroid function.