Long before the "fitness craze" hit the general population, athletes and weight trainers were already calculating their Body Mass Index (BMI) and adjusting it accordingly. They knew the numbers on a scale didn't tell the whole story of whether a person weighed the right amount or not. They knew the significance of their BMI. Read this informative article and find out everything you need to know about your Body Mass Index.

What Is Body Mass Index?
Body Mass Index, which is also called "Quetelet's Index," was invented by Belgian mathematician Adolphe Quetelet between 1830 and 1850. Your BMI can basically be defined as "a number that determines the relative amount of fat and muscle mass in your body." This number is calculated using your current weight and height. The more muscle your body has, and the less fat you're carrying, the healthier you should generally be. However, this number can't take into account any disability you may have.

How to Calculate Your Body Mass Index
To calculate your BMI, you'll need to measure your height. The easiest way to do this, is to enlist the aid of a helper and a ruler. In your barefeet, stand up straight, with your back against a wall. Have your helper place the ruler flat on the top of your head so one end is against the wall. To obtain a true measurement, the ruler will need to be held straight. Then, have your helper make a mark on the wall directly below the bottom edge of the ruler. Finally, use a tape measure to find out the distance between the floor and the mark.

The next step to calculate your BMI is to step unclothed on a pair of balanced scales to find out what your current weight is in pounds.

Now that you have these two numbers, you need to convert your height into inches. Then, square your height, which means multiply it by itself. Divide your weight by your height squared. And finally, multiply that answer by 703. The final result is your Body Mass Index.

Example: Let's say your height is 6 feet and your weight is 187 pounds. Your height is 72 inches. 72 squared is 72 X 72 = 5,184. Your weight of 187 divided by 5,184 = 0.036. Multiply 0.036 by 703, and the final result is a rounded 25.4.

How to Read Your BMI Number
If your Body Mass Index is 18.5 or lower, you are considered to be under weight. A desirable BMI is 18.5 - 24.9 which is considered to be normal weight. A person having a BMI of 25 - 29.9 is considered to be overweight. A BMI of 30 and more places a person in the "Obese" range. If you fall into this category, the excess weight may be a disability. Talk to your healthcare professional about choosing a healthy eating plan you can stick to.

A Word of Caution
While the BMI scale is useful in determining whether a person may be generally underweight, overweight or at their proper weight, it's simply based on numbers and mathematical calculations. This means that body shapes and conditions, as well as frame sizes, aren't taken into consideration. Therefore, it should be remembered that the Body Mass Index isn't a definitive number. It cannot accurately tell you how much actual fat or muscle you have on your body. It's a general approximation. Nor can your BMI determine your health condition and predict for certain that a disability is in your future health forecast. However, taking all those facts into account, the Body Mass Index is useful in determining a person's body size and bulk.

Sources:
http://www.medterms.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=16125
http://www.answers.com/topic/body-mass-index?cat=health
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Body_mass_index

See Kassidy Emmerson's Profile on Disaboom
See Kassidy Emmerson's Profile on Associated Content