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BMI Definition:

Body Mass Index is a statistical measure of the body fat scaled according to your ideal height and ideal weight. It has three categories which are listed in the table below.

    Classification BMI(kg/m2)
    Principal cut-off points Additional cut-off points
    Underweight <18.50 <18.50
         Severe thinness <16.00 <16.00
         Moderate thinness 16.00 - 16.99 16.00 - 16.99
         Mild thinness 17.00 - 18.49 17.00 - 18.49
    Normal range 18.50 - 24.99 18.50 - 22.99
    23.00 - 24.99
    Overweight ≥25.00 ≥25.00
         Pre-obese 25.00 - 29.99 25.00 - 27.49
    27.50 - 29.99
         Obese ≥30.00 ≥30.00
              Obese class I 30.00 - 34.99 30.00 - 32.49
    32.50 - 34.99
              Obese class II 35.00 - 39.99 35.00 - 37.49
    37.50 - 39.99
              Obese class III ≥40.00 ≥40.00
    Source: Adapted from WHO, 1995, WHO, 2000 and WHO 2004.

 According to the table your ideal BMI should be between 18.5 and 25.

BMI Formulas:

 Body mass index can be calculated in three units: SI, US and UK.

SI Units:

 BMI = weight(kg) / height²(m²)

US Units:

 BMI = 703 X weight(lb) / height²(in²)
 where,
 1kg = 2.2lbs.
 1cm = 0.39inches.

UK Units:

 BMI = 6.35 X weight(kg) / height²(m²)

Example:

 Calculate a person's BMI using 75kg as their weight and 157cm as their height.

 SI Units = weight(kg) / height²(m²)
             = 75 / (15.7)²  
             = 30kg/m²

 US Units = 703 X (weight(lb) / height²(in²))
             = 703 X ((75X2.2) / (157X0.39)²)  
             = 30lb/in²

 UK Units = 6.35 X weight(kg) / height²(m²)
             = 6.35 X (75 / (15.7)²)  
             = 193kg/m²

 Their category would be Obese.


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