BODY MASS INDEX (BMI)

   (Extract from Drug and Therapeutics Bulletin)
 

You can get a rough idea of whether you are overweight by working out your BMI from the chart below which shows you in which BMI range you register.

This is only a rough guide, many people have a high BMI without being overweight.

Also important is how much fat you have got around your middle - the bigger your tummy, the greater your health risks. This measurement should be taken around the widest part of the tummy - don't assume it's your belt size, which could be smaller. In general, if this measurement is over 88cm (35ins) in a woman, or over 102cm (40ins) in a man, the person is more likely to get diseases such as diabetes and heart disease.
 

Working out your BMI

Using a calculator, take your weight in kilograms (kg) and divide it by your height in metres (m). Then divide the result by your height again. The resultant gives you your Body Mass Index number (akin to normalised body density).

BMI Ranges

            Underweight:            less than 18.5

            Healthy weight:        18.5 to 24.9

            Overweight:             25 to 29.9

            Obese:                    30 to 39.9

            Severely Obese:      40 or more