What is BMI (Body Mass Index) & what is it for?

BMI is a popular term nowadays but I have no idea what exactly it is. It is said something that links with your body fat??

Public Comments

1. it is simply the proper height and weight for your age. ^^
2. BMI stands for Body Mass Index..it's a simple way to tell if you are a healthy weight for your height and age. It's kind of an old school way of finding out if you are healthy. It doesn't figure in things like muscle mass (muscle weighs more than fat). If you fall into an overweight or obese category, you are at a higher risk of developing heart disease, diabetes, stroke, etc. Here's a link for you where you can calculate what your BMI is: http://www.nhlbisupport.com/bmi/
3. It is the national average of the weight for age height and sex. It tells you if you weigh more than you should based on height. It is not 100% for everyone though. some people have different bone structures that make them a Little heavier.
4. The BMI was developed as a way to tell Americans whether they were overweight. It's a rough measure of how much fat you have for your muscle mass. If 20% of your body is fat, you ,roughly speaking, have a BMI of 20. Of 50% of your body is fat, you, rougly speaking, have a BMI of 50. For women, BMI's tend to be higher since we carry more fat naturally. To find the exact calculation of your BMI and to do it accurately requires measuiring your body in a water tank. A lot of gyms use pinchers, which are not as accurate, but a good rough measure.