Better Bodies In Training

BMI

Of all the body composition measurement tools, the BMI calculation seems to be the most common measurement used to determine healthy bodyweight. Some fitness and health professional treat the BMI as the gold standard. According to the CDC, “ BMI provides a reliable indicator of body fatness for most people and is used to screen for weight categories that may lead to health problems” http://www.cdc.gov/healthyweight/assessing/bmi/index.html.

BMI simply takes into consideration a person’s weight in pounds divided by that persons height in inches, the quotient is then mulitiped by 703. This is the manual calculation. There are many online versions that will make this calculation much easier. These would include:

1. http://www.cdc.gov/healthyweight/assessing/bmi/adult_bmi/english_bmi_calculator/bmi_calculator.html
2. http://www.nhlbisupport.com/bmi/
3. http://www.aarp.org/health/healthyliving/bmi_calculator/?CMP=KNC-360I-GOOGLE-HEA&HBX_PK=bmi_calculator
4. http://www.bmi-calculator.net/

Whichever method you use, the results are assessed using the following parameters:

According to http://lapbandcanada.ca , “there are several problems, however, with using BMI calculations as a determination of ideal weight:

1. body fat percentage or distribution is not accounted for;
2. only some of the tables account for different body frames or ages; and
3. most importantly, there is no consensus about which formula or table to use.

The BMI gives particularly inaccurate information with regard to individuals with above-average lean muscle mass, classifying such individuals as "overweight" or "obese" despite the fact that their body fat percentage would indicate they are in excellent physical condition (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Body_fat_percentage).

There are some online BMI calculators which include a frame size calculation. A couple examples include:

1. http://www.healthcentral.com/diet-exercise/ideal-body-weight-3146-143.html?ic=4004
2. http://www.dietandfitnesstoday.com/bodyFrame.php

Whichever method is used, the key point is to determine not just your ideal body weight but to also assess your risks for obesity and heart related diseases and conditions. Once such information is obtain, it is then imperative to take positive steps to correct, reduce and improve your overal health and fitness.