Obesity is a widespread issue around the globe nowadays. Lack of physical exercise, sitting in front of the screen for hours, consuming unhealthy food, etc., are the main causes of this issue.
One of the best and most accurate methods of ensuring healthy body weight is by checking your Body Mass Index (BMI). It is a simple calculation based on your weight and height that can assist in determining if you are at a healthy weight or at risk of developing severe health conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, and high blood pressure.
Knowing what your BMI figures mean can make a big difference to your health, enabling you to make healthier lifestyle decisions. Read on to discover why maintaining a record of your BMI is essential to having a healthier and better life.
What is the BMI Table?
A BMI table is a chart-based representation of the body mass index based on the height and weight of people. This table makes it easier for individuals to determine whether their body weight is healthy. It classifies people into various weight categories, including underweight, healthy weight, overweight, and obese, depending on the body mass index (BMI) value.
These categories are easy indicators of possible health risks related to certain weight levels. The BMI table allows you to view whether your BMI is in the healthy weight zone or whether your lifestyle needs to be changed.
BMI Table: Explained
To discover where you fit, consult the chart below to see if your BMI falls within a healthy category. The weight and height chart below employs BMI tables from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to give a general guideline for ranges of moderate (“normal”)-weight, overweight, obesity, and severe obesity.
Check out the BMI table for a better understanding based on your height and weight:
| Height | Moderate Body Weight
BMI 19–24 |
Overweight
BMI 25–29 |
Obesity
BMI 30–39 |
Severe Obesity
BMI 40+ |
| 4 feet 10 inches | 91–115 lb | 119–138 lb | 143–186 lb | 191–258 lb |
| 4 feet 11 inches | 94–119 lb | 124–143 lb | 148–193 lb | 198–267 lb |
| 5 feet | 97–123 lb | 128–148 lb | 153–199 lb | 204–276 lb |
| 5 feet 1 inch | 100–127 lb | 132–153 lb | 158–206 lb | 211–285 lb |
| 5 feet 2 inches | 104–131 lb | 136–158 lb | 164–213 lb | 218–295 lb |
| 5 feet 3 inches | 107–135 lb | 141–163 lb | 169–220 lb | 225–304 lb |
| 5 feet 4 inches | 110–140 lb | 145–169 lb | 174–227 lb | 232–314 lb |
| 5 feet 5 inches | 114–144 lb | 150–174 lb | 180–234 lb | 240–324 lb |
| 5 feet 6 inches | 118–148 lb | 155–179 lb | 186–241 lb | 247–334 lb |
| 5 feet 7 inches | 121–153 lb | 159–185 lb | 191–249 lb | 255–344 lb |
| 5 feet 8 inches | 125–158 lb | 164–190 lb | 197–256 lb | 262–354 lb |
| 5 feet 9 inches | 128–162 lb | 169–196 lb | 203–263 lb | 270–365 lb |
| 5 feet 10 inches | 132–167 lb | 174–202 lb | 209–271 lb | 278–376 lb |
| 5 feet 11 inches | 136–172 lb | 179–208 lb | 215–279 lb | 286–386 lb |
| 6 feet | 140–177 lb | 184–213 lb | 221–287 lb | 294–397 lb |
| 6 feet 1 inch | 144–182 lb | 189–219 lb | 227–295 lb | 302–408 lb |
| 6 feet 2 inches | 148–186 lb | 194–225 lb | 233–303 lb | 311–420 lb |
| 6 feet 3 inches | 152–192 lb | 200–232 lb | 240–311 lb | 319–431 lb |
| 6 feet 4 inches | 156–197 lb | 205–238 lb | 246–320 lb | 328–443 lb |
Significance of Measuring Body Mass Index
BMI is not just a number; it is a numeral that helps determine whether a person has a healthy weight relative to their height. Here are the major significance of measuring BMI:
● Determining Health Risks
One of the main reasons for determining BMI is to identify potential health threats. A BMI outside the normal range (18.5 to 24.9) can indicate certain underlying issues. If your BMI is too low, it could mean you are malnourished, anaemic, or have a compromised immune system.
Conversely, a higher BMI indicates you could be at risk for chronic diseases like heart disease, sleep apnea, arthritis, and cancers. This early warning allows you to take preventive actions or institute necessary adjustments before these problems worsen.
● Increasing Confidence and Well-Being
Maintaining an ideal body mass index not only boosts physical health but also affects your mental condition significantly. Having a healthy weight results in better energy, improved mood, and increased self-confidence, all of which yield a healthier quality of life.
● Personalized Health Plans
Doctors frequently use BMI, in combination with other medical check-ups, to create an individualized health plan. Whether you have to lose weight, gain weight, or just keep your weight the same, BMI assists physicians in creating a plan that comprises the appropriate diet, exercise, and lifestyle adjustments based on your requirements.
● Predictive Value for Chronic Diseases
BMI can be used as an effective estimator of chronic disease risk, including cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes. In general, a BMI higher than 25 kg/m² has been associated with higher cardiometabolic and inflammatory risk factors and gives a hint about the health of a patient.
BMIs of less than 20 kg/m² and more than 35 kg/m² are signs of negative health outcomes, which allow doctors to assess the likelihood of underlying diseases.
● Setting and Achieving Weight Goals
BMI is crucial in guiding you to achieve realistic and achievable weight targets. Here’s how:
- By calculating your BMI, you can effectively determine whether you need to gain or lose weight to achieve a better body composition.
- For individuals who are overweight or obese, BMI provides a clear objective for weight loss.
- On the other hand, if your BMI is low, it acts as a reminder to gain healthy weight.
- Monitoring your BMI over time allows you to see your progress, providing you with motivation and guidance on your health journey.
- Incorporating periodic BMI monitoring in your health check-up schedule is a big step towards sustaining overall well-being. It helps you determine the risk of health complications and make the required adjustments to your lifestyle.
However, even while you track your BMI using a BMI chart, do not forget to protect your health with a sound insurance policy. Star Health Insurance provides extensive coverage that can safeguard you against the economic burden of treating obesity-related diseases. Having the right coverage in place, you can pursue your health objectives without worrying.
Check out our health insurance plans today!
