For many people, there comes a time in life when they will sit down and take a closer look at their health, diet and physical condition. This reassessment can come at any time and can be provoked by many triggers, including unexpected medical concerns, or sudden weight problems.
Dealing with the many challenges life presents, it is easy to forget the importance of a healthy lifestyle. Before we know it, nutritional values and eating habits shift, and little time is left for physical activities. Sometimes fitness plans are even completely eliminated.
Lack of exercise and the consumption of unhealthy foods can lead to serious health problems. Obesity or any other type of drastic weight change can be dangerous and should undoubtedly be addressed immediately.
A simple diet, meal planning, counting calories, and tailor-made work outs are some of the changes that can bring incredible weight and health improvements. Of course, booking success is not enough; it also has to be recorded and maintained. Today, a variety of measuring tools are available and you can even calculate your own body mass.
Body Mass Index (BMI) is a preferred method used to measure body fat. It is a simple mathematical formula, consisting of your weight divided by the square of your height.
- BMI English formula = [(weight in pounds) ÷ (height in inches × height in inches)] x 703
- BMI Metric formula = weight in kilograms ÷ (height in meters × height in meters)
If this formula sounds confusing, easy to use BMI calculators can be found on many health and lifestyle websites.
BMI results are categorized as followed:
- Underweight = <18.5
- Normal weight = 18.5-24.9
- Overweight = 25-29.9
- Obesity = BMI of 30 or higher
Although fairly accurate, BMI is not a professional diagnostic instrument and should not replace the thorough tests a doctor can do. To determine if you are indeed overweight, he will also take other factors in account. Your gender and age can influence your score, as well as your muscular build, bone structure and the fat content of your entire body. To illustrate how some of these factors can play an important part in calculating weight and fat, just picture a body builder. Although this athlete may tip the scale quite heavily, he may have hardly any body fat. His weight may have accumulated from all the muscle he built during training, and not from eating large amounts of greasy hamburgers.
Screening your BMI is a great way to lose weight and monitor your wellbeing, especially if your BMI numbers have been elevated. People with higher Body Mass Index scores have a higher risk of developing certain weight-related illnesses, as well as high cholesterol, high blood sugar, heart diseases, or hypertension. In some cases health conditions caused by obesity can even be fatal.
Avoiding bad habits such as smoking, alcohol and drugs will help lower your BMI score. Add regular physical activity, and eating meals balanced in protein, carbohydrates, fat and calories and you will not only live a healthier lifestyle, but also find peace of mind.
Author: Michael Jenkins
About the Author:
Australian Lifestyle & Fitness offers free BMI tools. These include a BMI calculator and articles on BMI to help you lose weight and keep it off.
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/nutrition-articles/why-is-bmi-so-important-when-losing-weight-915551.html
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