Body Mass Index Measurement

Often, people feel they need to lose a drastic amount of weight, when in fact their weight is at a healthy level. 

The best advice is to visit your Physician who can perform a complete physical and let you know if he or she has any concerns with your weight.  Often, we can have a misguided image as to what is healthy weight due to the extreme slim images we are bombarded with in the media each day.  In fact, the average North American women are five feet 4 inches and weighs 138 pounds.

Consider taking your body mass index (BMI), which can help you determine if your weight is within a healthy range.  Below is a BMI chart and directions on how to determine your own BMI.  

·         The chart on the next page has completed the math formulas and metric conversions.  To use this table, find your appropriate height in inches in the left hand column.  Most across the row to the given weight.  The number at the top of the column is your BMI for your height and weight.

o        If your BMI is less than 19, you are considered underweight, which can have negative health implications.

o        If your BMI is 19-24.9, you’re in the normal range.

o        If your BMI is 25 – 29.9, you are considered overweight and have an increased risk of associated disease.

o        If your BMI is 30 – 34.9, you are considered in the obese range and have a high risk of associated disease.

o        If your BMI is 35 – 39.9, you are considered in the obese range and have a very high risk of associated disease.

o        If your BMI is over 40, you are classified as obese with an extremely high risk of associated disease.

Body Mass Index 

BMI (kg/m2)	19	20	21	22	23	24	25	26	27	28	29	30	35	40
Height (in.)	Weight (lb.)
58	91	96	100	105	110	115	119	124	129	134	138	143	167	191
59	94	99	104	109	114	119	124	128	133	138	143	148	173	198
60	97	102	107	112	118	123	128	133	138	143	148	153	179	204
61	100	106	111	116	122	127	132	137	143	148	153	158	185	211
62	104	109	115	120	126	131	136	142	147	153	158	164	191	218
63	107	113	118	124	130	135	141	146	152	158	163	169	197	225
64	110	116	122	128	134	140	145	151	157	163	169	174	204	232
65	114	120	126	132	138	144	150	156	162	168	174	180	210	240
66	118	124	130	136	142	148	155	161	167	173	179	186	216	247
67	121	127	134	140	146	153	159	166	172	178	185	191	223	255
68	125	131	138	144	151	158	164	171	177	184	190	197	230	262
69	128	135	142	149	155	162	169	176	182	189	196	203	236	270
70	132	139	146	153	160	167	174	181	188	195	202	207	243	278
71	136	143	150	157	165	172	179	186	196	200	208	215	250	286
72	140	147	154	162	169	177	184	191	199	206	213	221	258	294
73	144	151	159	166	174	182	189	197	204	212	219	227	265	302
74	148	155	163	171	179	186	194	202	210	218	225	233	272	311
75	152	160	168	176	184