Your BMI calculator for weight management.

Know your BMI or body mass index as extra pounds translate into health risks.

BMI is a measure which takes into account a person’s weight and height to gauge total body fat in adults:

•If your reading is less than 18.5 you are underweight and the reason for this should be investigated thoroughly, unless you are a naturally thin person. Especially if your weight loss is sudden and unintended as this could be as a result of malabsorption, internal parasites, a colon disorder, certain types of cancer or other chronic illnesses.

•A Normal reading is between 18.5 and 24.9 and, if you fall in this range, you can congratulate yourself but do keep eating a healthy diet and exercise regularly.

•25 to 29.9 is considered overweight and depending how high your reading is, is believed to carry a moderate to high health risk.

•A reading of 30 and higher is considered obese. The higher the reading, the greater the risk of developing additional health problems.

People who are overweight or obese are at higher risk for chronic conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes, and high cholesterol.

If you are overweight you should try to avoid gaining additional weight. Also, if you are overweight with other risk factors(such as high LDL cholesterol, low HDL cholesterol, or high blood pressure), you should try to lose weight.

Even a small weight loss (just 10% of your current weight) may help lower the risk of disease. Visceral fat (fat carried around the middle) is especially dangerous and is, unfortunately, the most difficult to get rid of and in my oppinion needs a complete change of lifestyle.