What Exactly Is Your BMI, And How Can You Bring It Down To A Healthy Level?

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Healthy Level of BMI chart

 

Image credit https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Body_mass_index_chart.svg

If you enjoy keeping up to date with health news or you’ve visited your doctor recently, you may be familiar with the term BMI. But what exactly is your BMI? Does it matter? And how can bring it down to a healthy level if you’re classed as overweight?

What exactly is your BMI?

BMI stands for Body Mass Index. This is a calculation, which is used to determine if people are a healthy weight. It uses your height and weight to produce a figure, which is placed on a scale from underweight to morbidly obese. If you’re in the normal category, this indicates that you’re a healthy weight for your height. If you don’t know what your BMI is, you can ask your doctor, or go online and search for an interactive tool.

Does your BMI really matter?

In the majority of cases, your BMI is an accurate indicator of whether or not you’re a healthy weight. There are limitations, and the reading isn’t always accurate. If you take professional rugby players, for example, they will often be classed as overweight even though they are actually in excellent condition. This is because they weigh a lot due to their muscle mass.

What else should I be looking for?

When you’re trying to slim down, it’s not always about measuring weight loss on the scale. Sometimes, you’ll actually gain weight even though your clothes feel a lot baggier. This is because you’re converting fat into muscle by working out on a regular basis. Your body weight may also depend on your frame and your bone density. Sometimes, two people who are the same height and look a similar build will actually produce completely different numbers on the scale. Body fat is also an important consideration. You can be very slim but still have a high body fat percentage. This is usually a result of a poor diet combined with inactivity. If you are serious about getting healthy, it may be worth looking here, and checking out some body fat scales.

healthy level of BMI calipers

Image from https://pixabay.com/en/scale-diet-fat-health-tape-weight-403585/

How can I improve my chances of a healthy BMI reading?

If you do have a bit of weight to lose, the best way to do this, and bring your BMI reading down is to combine exercise with a healthy, calorie-controlled diet. Often, moderating your intake of certain foods, and trimming down portion sizes can make a massive difference. By working out, or simply being more active, you’ll also be using more of the calories you take in. If you have no idea about calorie content, or you’re not sure how many calories you consume on an average day, use an app to help you keep a food diary.

Losing weight, especially if you’re exercising on a regular basis, can be a bit of a conundrum. You hear people talking about BMI, readings on the scale and body fat percentage, and it can get very confusing. It’s beneficial to be aware of your BMI to determine if you’re a healthy weight, but don’t obsess over the numbers on the scale. If you don’t have much weight to lose, and you’re working out, you may actually find that you gain a small amount of weight because you’re increasing muscle tone. Keep an eye on your muscle and body fat percentage. It is possible to have dangerously high body fat levels even if you’re very slim. You should notice that your body fat percentage drops and your muscle mass increases one you start eating healthily and exercising.

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