Body Mass Index or BMI is believed to be the best way to figure out if a person is obese or fat. It is used many doctors and dieticians and is considered to be a fairly straightforward equation.

BMI is a fairly uncomplicated equation that measures a person’s body fat by comparing their weight to their height:

(Weight in pounds) / (Height in inches) (Height in inches) x 703

As per the BMI standards, every person falls into one of these categories:

• 18.4 or lower: Underweight/ too thin.
• 18.5 – 24.9: Normal weight.
• 25 – 29.9: Overweight.
• 30 or more: Obese.

As per researchers, people who fall in the category of being overweight or obese by these measures are more prone to heart diseases and type II diabetes and some forms of cancer.

However, the authenticity of these measurements is questionable as this formula is not able to differentiate between muscles and fat. So a heavily muscular individual can appear to be overweight, as per the BMI equation. Most athletes, who do have lean muscles and are tall, may also appear to be underweight.

Nevertheless, barring athletes and people who are into weight training; this formula is perfect for normal people and medical purposes.

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