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Managing Your Body

BMI Formula

 One way to you can get an idea of what's a healthy range is to use the Body Mass Index (BMI).  BMI is a ratio showing a relationship between a person's height and weight.  Below are the steps to doing the formula with an example:

To figure your Body Mass Index do the following steps:

Step 1.  Take your weight and multiply it times 703

Step 2.  Take your height and change the feet into inches, add any addition inches

Step 3.  square the inches (multiply what you got from step two times itself)

Step 4.  Divide the your height in inches squared into the answer you got from step 1

BMI = 703 x weight/height in inches squared

Weight 150            Height 5'10"

703 x 150= 105450  / 70 x 70= 4900 = 21.520

What does BMI have to do with anything?  The index gives you a number indicator saying if you are underweight (less that the recommended weight for you height) or overweight (more than the recommended weight for your height).  One must also take age, gender, and muscle density in account while figuring your BMI.

Information for this webpage is for informational purposes only.  More information about the topics on this page can be found in our school health book. 

Reference: 

Merki, M.B., Merki, D. (2004). Glencoe Health: Ninth Edition. New York: McGraw Hill.

Here are some links to help you figure your BMI.  The first link gives your general BMI indication.  Click on the Women's Fitness Chart link for a little more accurate BMI indicator.