I've spent my career dealing with pain or rather the goal of curing pain wherever possible. And make no mistake, emotional pain can be as torturous as physical pain in many ways. Weight loss can include both.
While I have never been overweight, I cannot ignore the pain others have described who have and do battle with this.
For this article, rather than focusing on the health problems associated with weight issues, I'd like to review a method designed to help categorize various weight descriptions.
Calculating your BMI or (body mass index) is a tool that has long been used to help provide a description of where one might be in terms of weight and height. This particular method does not calculate actual fat in the body, but it does help provide a guideline of possible weight problems which include being either underweight or overweight.
In the 1800's the BMI was created and gained popularity in the 1950's and 1960's. It is still widely used.
For this application, we'll simplify the BMI method which can actually be rather complex. Please note however, that this does not necessarily apply to children. I recommend you address your child's weight with a pediatric doctor or nutritionist.
To calculate the BMI in pounds and inches, first identify your weight in pounds. Now, multiply that by 703. Then, take your height in inches squared (multiply height in inches by the same height in inches.) Divide the first number (weight X 703) by height squared.
For example, if you are 5'8'' and weight 170 pounds, multiply 170 by 703. That results in 119,510. Multiply 68 by 68 (height in inches) to arrive at 4624. Divide 119,510 by 4624 resulting in 25.85.
If you are doing this using metrics, use your height in kgs. Divide that by your height in meters times the same height in meters.
The BMI generalized would look like this: Under 18.5 may be underweight, 25 and under being optimal, over 25 to 40 may be overweight and over 40 may indicate morbid obesity.
The intention of the BMI was to be a simple body composition classification rather than to actually diagnose medical conditions.
There are some fairly high tech scales you may want to invest in as they will actually do the computations for you.
Again, BMI does not take certain things into consideration such as muscle mass or body frame. It also does not compare the amounts of water weight, fat or bone. It is however a way to quickly arrive at a range without having to utilize any special equipment.
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