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BMI
Your BMI tells you if you are a healthy weight for your height. To work out your Body Mass Index (BMI), you need to divide your weight in kilograms by your height in metres squared
| BMI = | Weight ------------ Height² |
example: | 55kg ------------ 1.71m² |
= 18.5 |
You can find an on-line calculator on the NHS Choices web site, which will allow you to enter your details in metric (cms, kilograms) or imperial (feet/inches, stones/pounds) http://www.nhs.uk/Tools/Pages/Healthyweightcalculator.aspx?Tag=
Once you have calculated your BMI value use the table below to see whether any action is recommended
| BMI value | Comment |
|---|---|
| Under 18.5 | Your are underweight. You might want to discuss this with a Nurse or Doctor when you next see them |
| 18.5 to < 25 | Your weight is in the healthy range |
| 25 to < 30 | You are overweight and need to look at your diet and exercise levels |
| 30 to < 40 | You are significantly overweight and need to look at your diet and exercise levels. You are welcome to consider booking an appointment with a practice nurse for a lifestyle risk assessment |
| Over 40 | You are very significantly overweight and need to look at your diet and exercise levels. You are welcome to consider booking an appointment with a practice nurse for a lifestyle risk assessment |
| Important notes: the BMI value and comments in this table are for adults only. It does not apply to children, pregnant women, or women who are breastfeeding. Also, your calculated BMI may not be accurate if you are a weight-trainer, athlete, over the age of 60, or have a long-term health condition | |
If you BMI is above 25 you might want to look at the following helpful pages on our web site: Exercise for health, Healthy eating, Healthy eating for students, Weight Management
Source: DM LSMP
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