How Do You Use the BMI Calculator for Men and Women?

Find out what your best treatment options are if you have a high or low BMI by using a BMI Calculator on Mealpro’s website or below this post.

KAMPALA | NOW THEN DIGITAL  —  If you have a high or low BMI, you might want to consult a doctor to figure out the best treatment option for you or use a BMI Calculator – you can find one on the website https://www.mealpro.net/ or below this post.

BMI is used to determine whether a person is obese, overweight, or of normal weight. Anyone with a BMI of 25 or higher is considered overweight. People with a BMI of 30 or more are considered obese.

The BMI score is not a single number but instead a tool that calculates body fat percentage by combining height and weight information. 

BMI is not the same as the body mass index (BMI), which is a measurement of weight relative to height. The BMI also does not take muscle mass or height into account.

How to calculate BMI for men and women

There are several BMI charts and tools available on the internet, including a calculator.

Healthcare professionals use BMI to assess a person’s weight and health. If someone is having trouble losing weight or becoming more physically active, a doctor may advise them to use a different BMI calculator.

A person with a BMI of 25 or higher is considered obese.

BMI scores for men and women

For women, the BMI calculator can be found on the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) website.

Similarly, the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) BMI calculator for men includes results for males of any age. Men may not have BMIs calculated for them by the NHLBI or NCHS because of sample size or analytical methods.

Both the NHLBI and NCHS BMI calculator can give three possible BMI score ranges:

Overweight: In the overweight range, a woman’s weight ranges from the following:

• Ages 20 to 24: Weight range: 25 to 29.9 kg
• Ages 25 to 29.9: Weight range: 30 to 34.9 kg
• Ages 30 to 34.9: Weight range: 35 to 39.9 kg

Overweight: In the overweight range, a man’s weight ranges from the following:

• Ages 20 to 24: Weight range: 25 to 29.9 kg
• Ages 25 to 29.9: Weight range: 30 to 34.9 kg
• Ages 30 to 34.9: Weight range: 35 to 39.9 kg

Obese: In the obese range, a woman’s weight ranges from the following:

• Ages 20 to 24: Weight range: 30 to 34.9 kg
• Ages 25 to 29.9: Weight range: 35 to 39.9 kg
• Ages 30 to 34.9: Weight range: 40 to 44.9 kg

Obese: In the obese range, a man’s weight ranges from the following:

• Ages 20 to 24: Weight range: 25 to 29.9 kg
• Ages 25 to 29.9: Weight range: 30 to 34.9 kg
• Ages 30 to 34.9: Weight range: 35 to 39.9 kg

Applying the BMI score

When a person’s BMI is under 25, a doctor will suggest that he lose weight, if possible, or find another treatment that is more effective.

If the BMI score is between 25 and 29.9, a doctor may suggest diet and exercise changes to prevent becoming overweight. The exercise goal may be to lose weight or to maintain a healthy body weight. 

A doctor will also advise a person to drink less alcohol, avoid smoking, or reduce coffee consumption to make the weight loss more effective.

If the BMI score is between 30 and 34.9, a doctor may suggest a person try to lose weight or find a healthier weight-loss diet plan. This may involve a combination of weight loss and exercise.

If the BMI score is between 35 and 39.9, a doctor may recommend weight loss or finding a healthier way to maintain weight. This may include a combination of weight loss and exercise.

What happens if someone is obese?

Many health conditions are associated with obesity. If a person is obese, the following health conditions are more likely:

1. Uncontrolled blood pressure
2. High cholesterol
3. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
4. Diabetes
5. High blood pressure
6. Low bone density
7. Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease
8. Insulin resistance
9. Preeclampsia, which is pregnant and can cause birth defects
10. Diseases of the liver, such as cirrhosis and fatty liver
11. High triglycerides

Anyone who is obese may also have a family history of obesity and other conditions, such as heart disease, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol.

Diagnosing obesity

One of the most important indicators of a person’s health is to look at their BMI. The BMI is just one tool to measure obesity. A doctor or other health professional will look at other factors to diagnose obesity, such as a person’s waist size.

As with most health statistics, the BMI is an approximation and does not give a clear indication of how healthy a person is. 

A BMI score in the overweight range is not a sign of health, and a person with a BMI of 35 or more may still have a healthy body weight. 

A person’s weight can fluctuate, and people can gain weight and lose weight without becoming obese. A person should have a BMI in the obese range only if their BMI is higher than the following:

• According to the World Health Organization, underweight is below 18.5 kg/m2.
• Overweight, as defined by the World Health Organization, is from 18.5 to 25 kg/m2.
• Obese, as defined by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, is from 25 to 30 kg/m2.

A BMI score of 35 or higher shows a person is obese. A BMI score below 30 is considered underweight.

Different systems to measure body mass index

The BMI system is based on height and weight. There are several different ways to measure body mass index.

The BMI is a simple estimate based on a person’s weight and height.

It is also a fairly consistent method across many health organizations, making it a popular method for health care professionals to measure a person’s weight.

A score between 18.5 and 25 indicates a normal body mass index (BMI) or someone who weighs between 18.5 and 25 kilograms (37 and 44 pounds). 

The BMI measures the ratio between weight and height.

People with a BMI below 25 have a body mass index of less than 18.05. These individuals are at an increased risk of obesity-related conditions.

The other BMI systems are based on specific factors, including:

• Body fat
• How muscle is distributed across the body
• How lean a person’s muscles are
• A person’s race

The Body Mass Index (BMI) is one of many measurements for a person’s body fat. A BMI score of 30 or higher shows someone is considered overweight. 

A BMI score of 18.5 to 24.9 is considered normal, and a score under 18.5 is considered underweight.

Some of the other available BMI systems include:

• Body fat ratio (BFR)
• Height-to-weight ratio (Ht/Wt)
• Muscle mass (kg/m2)
• Baseline measurements

Before using any BMI score, a doctor or health professional will look at a person’s baseline measurements. This is usually a simple measurement. 

A person can have a BMI of 35 or higher without being obese if their baseline measurements show that they are within the normal range.

For instance, a baseline measurement can include the person’s height and weight measurements, including:

• Height in centimeters (cm)
• Weight in kilograms (kg)
• Center of height in centimeters (cm)
• Center of weight in kilograms (kg)
• Body mass index

This information is helpful for measuring the following body measurements:

• Hips
• Waist
• Chest
• Muscle mass
• Bones
• Perspiration

This measurement is important because a person’s waist size often predicts the risk of developing serious obesity-related conditions, including:

Cardiometabolic disease, which refers to problems in the body’s blood vessels, such as high blood pressure or diabetes.

Noncommunicable diseases, which refer to conditions like heart disease or cancer that affect the whole body weight and associated conditions.

Diagnostic guidelines

The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute recommend the following when deciding how to use a BMI for diagnosis and measurement:

BMI scores that fall between 18.5 and 25 are considered normal and are likely to be normal in a person without obesity.

People with BMIs between 27 and 30 are considered overweight or obese.

BMI scores of 31 to 40 are considered obese, and these people are at a higher risk of heart disease.

BMI scores of more than 40 suggest a greater risk of chronic diseases.

Treatment

A doctor will likely work with a person to assess whether or not they have an obesity-related condition. A doctor will likely work with a person to assess whether or not they have an obesity-related condition.

There are several ways a doctor will treat a person’s obesity.

The doctor will treat an obesity-related condition with a combination of factors, including:

1. Medications
2. Medical treatments
3. Changes in diet and exercise
4. Fitness programs
5. Weight loss surgery

Medical treatments

When a person has diabetes, for instance, a doctor may prescribe or advise the use of a prescription or oral diabetes medication. 

They may also discuss potential insulin-lowering medications or other types of medications to treat blood sugar levels.

In addition, the doctor will often advise the use of other types of medication, including:

• Diuretics
• Antipsychotic medications
• Anti-epileptic medication
• Other drugs for managing pain or sleep problems

A doctor will often give a person information about the various types of medication they can take. 

The doctor may also suggest that the person takes a medical marijuana prescription or hashish, an illegal form of cannabis. This option is available in some states in the U.S.

Medical treatment options for treating a person with diabetes may be more complex than for other obesity-related conditions, such as high blood pressure.

For instance, some medications used for treating high blood pressure may increase a person’s weight or cause gastrointestinal side effects. The right choice of treatment depends on the person’s individual needs and any side effects they may experience.

Changes in diet and exercise

The doctor may also advise that a person should improve their diet and exercise by using healthful nutritional and fitness programs. 

This may be the most important way to get the right treatment for an obesity-related condition.

Here’s a BMI calculator that you can use to find out your BMI.