The body mass index (BMI) is a statistical measure of the weight of a person scaled according to height. As such, it is useful as a population measure only, and is not appropriate for diagnosing individuals. BMI can also be determined using a BMI chart, which displays BMI as a function of weight (horizontal axis) and height (vertical axis) using contour lines for different values of BMI or colors for different BMI categories.
Obesity does not exist in a vacuum; it can lead to other serious health conditions, which is why it affects your life insurance rates.
PROS
Measuring your BMI is an easy inexpensive way for you to to identify possible weight problems. It does no require any equipment, (maybe a calculator) so is accessible by all. It is also very general measurement and is based on large group research studies. This is a reasonable formula to use to get an estimate but it also has several drawbacks
CONS
Body Mass Index does does not take into account the amount of body fat and muscle on an individual. It does not differentiate between muscle and fat.
Body Mass Index (BMI)
Please enter height and weight.
Being overweight or obese increases your risk of the following conditions:
| Hypertension (high blood pressure) |
Osteoarthritis (a degeneration of cartilage and its underlying bone within a joint) |
| Dyslipidemia (such as high cholesterol) |
Type 2 diabetes |
| Coronary heart disease |
Stroke
Gallbladder disease |
| Sleep apnea and respiratory problems |
Some cancers (such as endometrial, breast and colon) |
Read more about the importance of a healthy diet and knowing what one serving is.
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