Body Mass Index (BMI): Another Useful Tool for Monitoring Weight Loss

Body mass index, or more commonly known as BMI, is one of a few great tools to use to monitor your weight loss progress. Other tools used include body fat calipers and body fat scales. The BMI differs from those other tools in that it doesn't actually calculate body fat percentage. Body mass index computes the relationship between a person’s height and weight and predicts how those factors will influence your health.

BMI is computed in metric, so you have to convert your height into meters and your weight into kilograms. The final body mass index looks like this: BMI = kg/m2. I don’t know about the rest of you but I was absent the day they taught us how to convert to metric. For folks like us, we've found a great body mass index calculator that does all the fancy math for us with a click of a button. You can find it at the CDC's website.

Once you have calculated your body mass index, the number you get should be compared to a table of numbers in the BMI chart. There are four categories that you can fall into based upon your body mass index score: underweight, normal, overweight, and obese.

You are considered underweight if your BMI score falls below 18.5.  If your score is between 18.5 and 24.9, then you are considered normal but try to not let it go to your head because you could easily end up in the overweight category if you don't "watch your weight."

You are considered overweight if your body mass index is between 25 and 29.9. In this range, you have an increased chance of developing disease like coronary heart disease or diabetes. It is possible that you may even be a high risk for these and other weight related conditions but that depends on your waist size as well as your BMI score.

A score on the body mass index above 30 means obesity and a high-risk for high blood pressure and the conditions listed above.

The body mass index is great for getting an idea of where you stand with respect to body size and chances of disease. If your goal, however, is to measure your body fat percentage, you will be better off using body fat calipers or a body fat scale. Together, all three tools are great for keeping your weight loss efforts on track!

Related Pages

Body Composition - Are you made of more fat or more muscle? Find out what body composition is all about.
Body Fat Percentage - What is your body fat percentage? Knowing this is more important than stepping on the bathroom scale.
Body Fat Scales - Find out how these inexpensive and easy-to-use scales can help you measure your weight loss success.
Body Fat Calipers - Helpful tips on how to use them to get the most accurate measurements of your body fat percentage.
How to Lose 20 Pounds Really Really Fast! - Tom Venuto discusses the importance of losing fat vs. losing weight.