There are about a million reasons to lose weight from buying new clothes to reducing heart disease and high blood pressure. Rather than relying solely on the numbers you see on the scale, there is another number that can be a better indicator of health risks, your body mass index.

{Focus on healthy eating so your daily health regimen doesn’t include all of these!}

Knowing your body mass index can help you determine your weight loss goals as well as reduce your risk for certain weight related illnesses. Keep reading to find out more about how your body mass index affects your health.

What Is Body Mass Index?

When it comes to our decision to lose weight, quite often it is based completely on the numbers on the scale and what those numbers mean to us. Typically we choose an arbitrary number that will make us feel better about ourselves rather than a number that is accurate or based on science.

The Body Mass Index (BMI) is a far more accurate way to gauge your total body fat. If you’re curious about how much fact you actually have, compared to how much fat you think you have then you should get a proper measure of your body mass index. This will give you a better idea of how much weight you actually need to lose to reach your goals.

Calculating Body Mass Index

Calculate your body mass index to find out where you fall on the scale of obesity. There is a simple formula for calculating your BMI that requires you to have an accurate measure of your height and weight. Of course there are plenty of BMI calculators on the web, but since this is your weight loss it is important that you know how to do it on your own.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the formula for calculating your body mass index is as follows:

Pounds & Inches – [Weight/Height²] x 703=Body Mass Index

Kilograms & Meters – [Weight/Height²] x 68=Body Mass Index

It’s important that you have access to the BMI formula just to make sure all those online BMI calculators are doing it right.

Calculate your body mass index using one of these formulas so you can find out where you are on the scale of obesity.

BMI Range

The range for your body mass index lets you know where you fall on the weight scale. There are four weight statuses on the range; underweight, normal, overweight and obese. Your BMI number will let you know exactly where you fall within this range, so that you can do what you need to get to a healthy body mass index if necessary.

You are considered underweight if your body mass index is 18.5 or below, and while that seems like the kind of problem to have for those of us struggling to control our weight, it can have its own set of health problems. Your body mass index is within the normal range if it falls between 18.5 and 24.9, and with a well balanced diet and regular physical activity you can keep it within normal range.

If you fall into the overweight range that means your body mass index is 25 to 28.9 and you need to work to get it down within normal range. Those with a BMI of 30 and higher are considered obese and also need to work to get to the normal weight status.

{It’s never too late do something to decrease your body mass index!}

At Risk Health

There are many reasons aside from simply looking better that you should work hard to get and keep your body mass index within a normal range. Your chances of succumbing to weight related illnesses are increased as your body mass index is increased.

Heart disease is fairly common among the overweight and obese, as is high blood pressure and diabetes. In fact it is estimated that a body mass index over 30 can increase your risk of death—from anything—by as much as 150%! When not accounting for family history, the greater your BMI, the greater your risk of heart disease, blood pressure and diabetes.

The bad news however is that your health risk isn’t just limited to the 3 big illnesses associated with having an excess of body fat. Your risk of high cholesterol, which doesn’t only affect the overweight or obese, is increased with a higher body mass index as is stroke.

Other risk factors associated with a higher BMI include; respiratory problems, gallbladder disease, sleep apnea as well as certain types of cancer.

Reaching A Healthy BMI

There is good news however, about what you can do to reduce your body mass index and decrease your risk for certain diseases. Follow these tips for a lower body mass index and an overall healthier you:

• Adopt a low-fat diet: Foods lower in fat will help you store less fat in your body and keep your cholesterol low, which over time will cause fat loss.
• Exercise Regularly: Frequent physical activity has been linked to a decrease in heart disease as well as a reduced risk of death from heart disease or stroke, according to a 2006 study in the European Journal of Cardiovascular Prevention and Rehabilitation.

{Learn to create low fat meals so you can reduce your overall body fat.}

• Reduce Caloric Intake: By eating fewer calories each day you can not only stop weight gain but begin to lose weight as well. When you only give your body the calories it needs to perform basic functions then there are far fewer calories left over to get stored as fat. And the more you reduce your caloric intake, the more fat you’ll burn through regular exercise.
• Become more active: Losing fat isn’t just about exercising; it is about leading a more active life in general. Take up a hobby (or two) that requires you to do more than type updates online or press buttons on a video game controller. Instead of driving to the supermarket, spend a few hours walking around a Farmer’s Market or take a walk in the park.
• Learn to love produce: Developing a healthy relationship with fruits and vegetables will not only help you lower your body mass index, but it will also keep you healthy and keep those health problems at bay. Fruits and vegetables are packed with essential vitamins and nutrients that foster good health.

Lowering your body mass index will help you find a reasonable weight loss goal as well as a realistic plan so you can achieve it. The healthier you are, the easier it will be for you to stay proactive regarding your health and weight.

Do you find it difficult giving up sugary desserts and salty snacks? Read our Eat Stop Eat review of Brad Pilon’s intermittent fasting program for tips on reducing your body mass index.