Measuring a person's body fat percentage can be difficult, therefore, other methods are relied on to diagnose obesity. A widely used method is the body mass index (BMI).

What is the body mass index (BMI)?

The body mass index (BMI) is a new term to most people. However, it is now the measurement of choice for many physicians and researchers studying obesity.

The BMI uses a mathematical formula that accounts for both a person's weight and height. The BMI equals a person's weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared (BMI=kg/m2).

BMI is a useful general guideline and is a good estimator of body fat for most adults between the ages of 19 and 70 years of age. However, it may not be an accurate measurement of body fat for body builders, certain athletes, and pregnant women. A very muscular person may appear obese, according to the tables, when he or she in fact is not.

It is important to understand what "healthy weight" means. Healthy weight is defined as a body mass index (BMI) equal to or greater than 19 and less than 25 among all people aged 20 or over.

Generally, obesity is defined as a body mass index (BMI) equal to or greater than 30, which approximates 30 pounds of excess weight. Excess weight also places people at risk of developing serious health problems.


Here are some other weight management facts to ponder:

• Did you Know, Americans spend 33 billion dollars each year on weight management products and services.
• Presently, one out of every three Americans is on a diet.
• Almost 80 percent of people do not meet the recommended basic activity levels aka as exercise and that 25 percent of Americans don’t include any type of exercise in their life at all.
• Obesity is a greater trigger for health problems and increased health spending than smoking or drinking. Individuals who are obese have 30% to 50% more chronic medical problems than those who smoke or drink heavily. (The Effects of Obesity, Smoking, and Drinking on Medical Problems and Costs, Health Affairs, March/April 2002).
• Overweight and obese individuals are at increased risk for diabetes, heart disease, hypertension, sleep apnea, musculoskeletal conditions, stroke, endometrial, breast, prostate, and colon cancers, poor female reproductive health, depression, and other conditions. (Clinical Guidelines on the Identification, Evaluation, and Treatment of Overweight and Obesity in Adults, NHLBI, 1998).
• For every 2-pound increase in weight, the risk of developing arthritis is increased by 9-13%. (Surgeon General’s Call to Action to Prevent and Decrease Overweight and Obesity, 2001).
• Each year, more American children are killed by obesity than gun violence. (Surgeon General’s Call to Action to Prevent and Decrease Overweight and Obesity, 2001).