Body Mass Index Charts

The body mass index (abbreviated as BMI) is a statistical and mathematical method of measuring the weight of an individual in relation to the height of the individual. It is essentially the ratio of the weight of the individual and the square of the height of the individual.

Adolphe Quetelet introduced the concept of the body mass index during his research that went on between 1830 and the middle of the 19^th century. The body mass index of any individual can be easily calculated using the simple mathematical formula that involves dividing the weight of an individual by the square if his height in meters. This procedure however is slightly cumbersome. A relatively newer and easier method of calculating the body mass index of an individual is by using the body mass index charts.  

A body mass index chart is essentially a graphical representation of the body mass index of an individual. The chart consists of the weight of the individual on the horizontal axis and the height of the individual plotted on the vertical axis. This arrangement makes it extremely easy for a doctor and even he patient to read the body mass index charts with great ease. The charts contain the actual value of the body mass index of an individual plotted using various and different kinds of contour lines. These contour lines have different and varying values of the body mass index. These lines are also different depending on the color with each color serving a particular purpose.  

If your BMI is between 20 and 22:
Your body mass index is ideal and you have a healthy amount of body fat. This range is associated with living the longest with the lowest incidence of serious illness.

If your BMI is between 22 and 25:
Your body mass index is still within an acceptable range and your health is satisfactory.

If your BMI is between 25 and 30:
Between these values you are considered overweight and it would be beneficial to your health if you attempted to lose weight by dieting and exercising.

If your BMI is over 30:
Your body is in an unhealthy condition and you are putting yourself at risk of heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, gall bladder disease and some cancers. You should lose weight by changing your diet and exercising more.

The various body mass index charts look complex and difficult to read, but once understood, the charts are extremely simple to read and comprehend. The charts comprise of various sections that need to be filled in. these details that are entered are basically about the individual who is being measured.

These input values also serve as the basis of all further calculation. Once the values are fed to the system on which the chart is based, a direct value of the body mass index of the individual is obtained. This reading helps to a large extent, especially in those cases where an individual already has an imperfect medical history. These scales and charts are different for children and adults. This disparity exists owing to the fact that children are still in their formative years and hence undergo rapid and fast progress as compared to various adults.

The charts for kids are extremely beneficial. For instance, for an infant, it is of vital importance to note the overall BMI. This is important as the reading of these charts directly compares the body mass index of the child to various other children of the same age group. This enables the parents of the infant to get a clear picture of the medical status and metabolism of the body.

For children who have just reached puberty, the body mass index changes at a great pace owing to the fact that children gain in both height and weight in the puberty years. It is thus of vital importance to completely understand the body mass index concept.