Adolphe Quetelet was a well known sociologist, astronomer, mathematician and statistician of the 19th century. He strongly believed that statistics and probabilities influence human lives too much, so they have to be taken into account. Since he was the creator of the BMI, this formula took his name for a while and was called the Quatelet Index. This index managed to bring light into the medical industry, which was not very advanced back then. Because of the advantages of this formula brought, it soon began to be the most commonly used tool to determine the right weight someone should have.

How to calculate the BMI

The BMI is very easy to calculate. All one needs is to place the height and the weight of a person into a simple equation:

BMI = mass(kg)/(height(m))2

This means that the BMI is the weight divided by the height in meters squared. Since this formula is used all over the world it has been adapted to other systems of measurement. For example, the BMI can be calculated by dividing the weight in pounds by the height in inches squared. The result has to be multiplied by 703. So, the equation looks like this:

BMI = mass(lb)x703/(height(in))2

If the weight is measured in pounds and the height in feet squared, the result has to be multiplied by 4.88. When the weight is measured in stones and the height in inches squared, the result should be multiplied by 9840. This way, the formula is adapted to fit all cultures.

Even though many people know that Quetelet was its creator, the truth is that the term body mass index became popular only in 1972, when Ancel Keys published a paper on it in the July edition of the Journal of Chronic Diseases. Keys considered that this was the best tool to establish the body fat percentage in the human body.

What are the advantages of the Body Mass Index?

• At first sight, one can see just how easy it is to calculate. This makes it accessible for everybody. This tool can be used even by simple people who do not have to see a doctor to divide their weight by the height squared. This way, people can learn by themselves if they are overweight or if their weight is below normal. All they need is the chart where they can see in which category they fit.
• It is a useful primary tool in diagnosing obesity. Because of that, this formula is used by almost all physicians, nutritionists or trainers in health centers.
• It is cheap. There are many devices nowadays that can calculate the percentage of fat in the human body. They use innovative technology that allows one to see just how large the fat deposits are and how much weight one needs to lose or gain. Unfortunately, all these tools are very expensive, which is why not everybody can afford them. There is no expense to be made in order to calculate the BMI, which makes it very popular.

What are the applications of the Body Mass Index?

• The BMI is used first of all by doctors to help their patients deal with their weight problems. This tool can be used both in the case of overweight and underweight people.
• Secondly, it is used as a statistical device. Even though some say it has its flaws when it comes to diagnosing individuals’ weight problems, this formula is excellent to identify trends. For example, statisticians use it to indicate the general trend of the population in what concerns the weight. With its help, researchers found out that there is a trend nowadays towards children obesity and that measures have to be taken to prevent it from expanding. Moreover, countries can find out the general state of health of its population. This way, the US has decided to take measures to lower the alarming number of overweight and obese people who account for the 63% of the American population.
• Thirdly, it is used for medical underwriting processes. A very good example is that of insurance companies, which have very rigorous criteria when it comes to health insurance. The health insurance rates and premiums are decided taking into account several risk factors. Obesity is one of them, which can determine the insurance company to raise insurance rates for obese people or even deny it in some cases. However, the limits are set by each individual insurance company. Still, most of them deny the application of the morbidly obese individuals, no matter how much they are willing to pay.

What are the main categories of classification?

Even though in some countries numbers can differ, the main categories generally adopted group people into seven classes as following:

1. Severely underweight: the BMI is less than 16.0.
2. Underweight: the BMI ranges between 16.0 and 18.5.
3. Normal: the BMI ranges between 18.5 and 25.
4. Overweight: the BMI ranges between 25 and 30.
5. Obese Class I: the BMI ranges between 30 and 35.
6. Obese Class II: the BMI ranges between 35 and 40.
7. Obese Cass III: the BMI is over 40.

To make people aware of what normal is, the researchers estimated that a person that is 1.8 meters tall should have between 59.9 and 81.0 kilograms. In pounds, it means between 132 and 179lb. Even though these groups are not always very accurate classifications, they are generally correct with some exceptions. Because of that, people who have weight problems or who believe their weight is not within the normal range, should go to the doctor to check whether they have to adopt a special diet or not.

The weight issue is a very popular one nowadays and people do whatever they can to look as skinny as possible. Because of that, the BMI is probably used now more than ever. In spite of the general preoccupation to lose weight, the population is confronted with what some might call an obesity epidemic. Ignorance in establishing the right weight is not one of the causes of this epidemic. Some say that it is exactly this constant preoccupation with being slim that has caused people to gain weight. Things make sense if one were to count how many fad diets are available nowadays that promise people to lose weight in a very short period of time, ignoring the consequences of their actions.

The fast food industry is also one of the major causes of the constantly growing number of obese people nowadays. All the preservatives and additives in the fast food have a very negative impact on the health and on the weight of a person. Moreover, most fast food products contain more fats than they should and have ingredients that create addiction. Scientists have studied this problem and reached the conclusion that people no longer have only four tastes: sweet, salty, bitter and sour. Now people have the fifth sense called “umami”, which is responsible for the taste of fatty foods. This can explain the fact that some simply cannot help themselves when it comes to certain types of foods.

Another problem of the modern world that leads to obesity issues is the sedentary lifestyle.  Even though people know their BMI shows they are overweight or obese, they do not make changes that could help them lose the extra pounds the healthy way. People no longer do simple things like walking or climbing stairs. They prefer traveling even very small distances by car or taking the elevator instead of climbing one or two floors.

With all these problems of the modern life, physicians go back to the traditional tools of establishing the percentage of fat in the human body. One of them is the Body Mass Index, which is seen as a reliable tool in spite of its flaws. There have been many other tools to help people decide which their perfect body weight is, but all these have had so many disadvantages, that using them is not an option for everybody. Since the BMI is so accessible, there are many physicians who still use it to establish whether their patients are overweight or underweight.

However, a simple formula cannot replace what the human eye can see. So, the experience of a doctor can fill in the gaps left by the BMI formula and reveal whether someone is having weight problems or not.

As an overall conclusion, it is a wise choice to use the Body Mass Index as long as there are also other factors that are taken into account when choosing the proper diet.

Being fit and slim is becoming a stringent need nowadays. People are more preoccupied with their health state than ever, in spite of the alarming statistics that revealed the fact that obesity is a horrible disorder many suffer from. Being overweight or obese is almost normal in some cultures, and there are numerous families who suffer from this disorder. The lifestyle, the alimentation choices, the lack of physical exercise are just some factors that, added to the genetic inheritance, contribute to the expansion of this ‘disease of the century’. The alarming number of overweight people raised question marks for governments and society members.

What are the flaws of the Body Mass Index?

Even though the Body Mass Index has many flaws, some of them are quite dangerous and cannot be ignored. Because of that, specialists have tried to find a replacement for the BMI in the BVI (Body Volume Index). Why? Because:

1. The gender issue is not taken into account in the case of the Body Mass Index, even if it is crucial when it comes to establishing the perfect weight. It is a well known fact that men in general have a bigger muscular mass than women. It is not correct to say that muscles that weigh as much as fat deposits should account for the same value when the BMI is calculated.

Because of that, many sportspeople are diagnosed with weight problems when the BMI formula is used. Let’s take for example a bodybuilder or a boxer who has well defined muscles and works out on a daily basis for several hours and weighs 190 pounds at a height of 5.9 feet. His over 26 BMI reveals that he is overweight even though his body doesn’t have fat deposits.

On the other hand, a woman who usually doesn’t grow such a big muscular mass even though she is an athlete too, might be overweight. Specialists say that it is anatomically normal for women to have small fat deposits in some areas of the body where men do not need them. Pregnant women who weigh more at the end of their pregnancy are not necessarily overweight. This is another thing that the BMI doesn’t consider as a variable which is why these women should not use this formula to establish whether they are overweight or not.

2. Lifestyle is another factor that the Body Mass Index doesn’t take into account. This has to do with how much a person works out and how large his muscle mass is. What few people know is that muscles weigh more than fat, which is why the BMI of a person with large muscles can be bigger than that of a really overweight person. The example above applies here too. Since the BMI has been used to decide whether a person is at a right weight or not, this discrepancy should be taken into account too. Moreover, because of the increased muscular mass, men can burn calories easier. It is a well known fact that the more muscles one grows, the faster he can burn the fat deposits and the calories consumed.
3. Body frame is another important criterion that the Body Mass Index totally ignores. There are people who simply have a small frame while others might have a large body frame and very little fat deposits. The small frame body type is more likely to have excess fat, even though he weighs exactly the same as the large frame person. Ignoring this difference can mean including someone in the overweight group for the wrong reasons. This mistake can be done even in the case of children, which is why, in this case, the BMI should be avoided so that the child doesn’t have to suffer the consequences.
4. The medical history or active medical conditions are variables that need to be taken into consideration when a physician diagnoses a person with weight problems. The medical background is extremely important to decide the safe weight one should have.
5. Race has always been something that determined the genetic predisposition towards becoming obese. For example, it is a well known fact that most Asian people will never be overweight by the BMI criterion. However, most of them have a predisposition towards accumulating visceral fat deposits. Since visceral fat is one of the major causes of heart attacks, and other medical conditions, ignoring the race issue can be a fatal mistake.

All these flaws of the Body Mass Index have led the researchers to find another tool to prevent obesity health related problems. One of the most popular substitutes has always been the hipper measurement formula. The waist to hip ratio should be 0.8 in the case of women and 0.95 in the case of men. Even though this formula is excellent in many cases and can really predict heart attacks or other medical conditions caused by obesity, the generalization is again the main flaw, exactly like in the case of the BMI.

One of the best alternatives to the Body Mass Index nowadays seems to be the Body Volume Index. If the BMI looks at the basic relationship between weigh and height, the BVI takes into account much more than that. Mass and volume distribution is much more important in the case of the BVI that it has ever been in the case of the BMI.

What is the Body Volume Index?

The Body Volume Index is a type of formula that, unlike in the case of the BMI, is not calculated manually. To be able to establish the BVI, the person needs to use a 3D full body scanner together with the BVI. This new formula is a computer based one and takes into account many variables that the BMI ignored completely.

For example, besides the height and weight of the person, the waist-hip ratio, the waist circumference and the volumetric and body composition analysis complete the whole picture.

The distribution of the weight is very important when calculating the BVI and there cannot be any mistakes, because everything is done by a computer. Even though the BVI is not completely adopted by the medical and scientific world, the researchers estimate that the year 2020 is the one when this will most likely take place.

There are obviously downsides to using the BVI nowadays, but these seem minor in comparison to those of the BMI. One of the major flaws is the fact that the index cannot be calculated cost-free and it requires the patient to go to a clinic where the special scanner can be found.

Moreover, some fear that the radiation produced by the scanner can harm them. The creators of the scanner say that this device is radiation free. Moreover, the whole procedure takes only six seconds, so there is no risk at all during this extremely short period of time. Believe it or not, the computer only needs these six seconds to run a complete analysis of the human body and tell with accuracy where the fat deposits are placed.

Is the Body Mass Index Still Viable?

The Body Mass Index has been used a great deal in the last years by physicians and by statistical researchers. Physicians advised their patients to lose or gain weight taking into account the results of the BMI formula, while statisticians established the general trend of the population at a regional level, but also at a global one. If, in the case of the statistics, the BMI is good enough and the exceptions could be ignored, when it came to particular cases, humans suffered due to the flaws of this formula.

The Body Mass Index has also been used on other occasions too. For example, the insurance companies decided whether they offered health insurance policies to people whenever their BMI was within normal limits. If they were overweight, the payments the insured person had to make were usually higher and, in some cases, obese people were not granted the possibility to have a health insurance. Because of the flaws of the BMI, many people lost important sums of money and insurance companies lost good customers while others presented high risks that were ignored.

Overall, the Body Mass Index was a formula that worked great and helped people many years. However, since diversity is more important nowadays than ever, each variable should be taken into account. With the innovations in the medical industry it would be a pity to ignore the flaws of the BMI and not to allow other more performing tools, such as the BVI, to tell us whether we have weight problems or not.

The index can be either calculated using a simple function or determined using a special chart. The formula, also named the Quetelet index in the 19^th century, has been initially developed in a course used for developing what was then called “social physics”. There have also been other attempts throughout history to come up with measuring systems and formulas to help people assess their body weight more easily, but the BMI has been most strongly supported, as it is quite possibly the most simple and useful method.

About the Body Mass Index

So what exactly is the body mass index? BMI, as it is commonly abbreviated, has been created in the early 1800s by a Belgian polymath called Adolphe Quetelet. The formula basically consists of the division between the mass of the body (measured in kilograms) and the square of its height (measured in square meters). The measurement unit of the BMI therefore is kg/m².

Simply put, the ratio is basically a way of comparing body weight with height. Due to obesity being a problem in society for centuries, it is safe to say that the invention of BMI has helped a myriad of people worldwide to find out more about their body weight (as well as the distribution of the fat throughout the body) and have a better idea of how to lose weight and live a healthier life.

The term “Body Mass Index” has been used for the first time in 1972 and its popularity has continued to grow since then, until the formula gradually became the most well-known method for measuring low or high body weight.

BMI is also seen as a simple numeric aid designed to help doctors classify people who are physically inactive or who suffer from obesity. This classification then serves to offer a clearer view of the diagnostic that has to be made as well as the treatments that need to be applied in the case of a certain disease.

Many have designed various methods to reduce the body weight index and thus improve overall health by eliminating obesity. Some are based on diets, while others on physical exercises or using different types of pills or supplements. Sometimes, however, experts don’t agree on what the best steps would be, so, in many cases, there can be great confusion regarding what to actually work on in order to reduce the body mass index.

This is mainly because the purpose is more than just losing weight. Because the BMI function uses the square of the person’s height to determine the value, the differences in height between people play a very important role in the methods involved in lowering the BMI to an appropriate level. Basically, this means that, if you are a tall person, you will likely need to use different methods for weight loss than someone who is much shorter than you.

The Steps to Follow in Order to Reduce the BMI

There are a few simple steps you can follow in order to lower your body mass index depending on your weight and height. The normal BMI value for healthy young adults is generally in the range of 20-25. BMI does not make any difference between fat and muscle weight, however, so there may be certain exceptions to the guidelines.

1. Reducing Calories – Creating a diet plan can possibly be the best method of lowering body mass index values in case you are overweight or suffer from obesity. The intake of calories is extremely important, especially since those who have extra weight usually consume them far too excessively. A calorie intake of less than 2000 would be perfect to help you gradually reduce your BMI. Using scales and an online calorie calculator, you should have no problem in making an efficient died that will assist you to eliminate body fat as quickly as possible.
2. Increase Fiber Intake – An additional helpful hint when it comes to changing your eating habits is to increase the fiber level in your diet. This would generally mean consuming whole grain products like whole-wheat flour, oatmeal and various other similar sources of fiber.
3. Dietary Supplements – There are certain products that can help you lose weight fast. While you need to be careful about what you buy, some of these food supplements can actually help. Made from rare natural ingredients they will often enhance your health and increase your overall state of well being to a point where the BMI will never be a problem again.
4. Regular Exercise – Many people frown when they hear about exercising or working out. The fact is however that the body needs at least a minimal period of exercise per day in order to remain healthy. Exercise is usually able to help you get rid of excess calories and stimulate your body’s metabolism, making it burn fat in an efficient way. This will help you not only to lose weight, but also to feel better overall. Normally, 30 minutes per day will be more than enough to help you achieve the desired results.
5. Motivation – It is extremely important to remain motivated during the changes you make in your lifestyle that will allow you to lower your BMI. If you start working on exercising or keeping a diet for only 2 or 3 days and then lose your motivation because of the slow development of results, it will be hard to achieve the body weight that you want. Use suggestions in order to boost your motivation or ask your friends to check up on your progress and assist you with encouragements when you feel tempted to give up.
6. Hypnosis – Using hypnosis for weight loss is a concept that has gained greatly in popularity over the past few decades. The practice of hypnosis uses suggestions at a subconscious level that can “reprogram” your mind, so to speak, in order to eliminate any unwanted mental patterns such as eating disorders. This can be quite a painless and effective method to lower the BMI, as well as to eliminate many other potential problems.
7. Yoga and Meditation – People don’t usually know about the exceptional results you can achieve by practicing some type of yoga or meditation. Oriental practices are based on the idea that the mind is able to control the body to a far larger extent than many are willing to admit. Certain practices such as Yoga, Tai Chi or Qigong have often been proven to be quite efficient in working with obesity. Moreover, these practices are generally far more natural than regular exercise techniques, so you will be able to “mold” your body back into shape more easily and improve your BMI considerably.
8. A more Active lifestyle – Your lifestyle is largely responsible for most of the problems revolving around body weight. There are many who have jobs that do not require much physical work so that they get used to being sedentary both at work and at home. Introducing sports, dancing and various other activities into your schedule will help you become more physically active and will create exceptional results for your BMI. Even taking walks every day and spending less time sitting in one place can be extremely beneficial.
9. Become More Organized – Creating a precise schedule can seem demanding but it will help you become much more organized. Try to think of all the important tasks that you need to get done during the day and fit the new activities into your schedule as best as possible. This will help you not only keep track of your BMI progress but will also increase your focus and clarity, so that you won’t be so stressed out anymore because of not having the time to get things done.
10. Stick with the Changes – If you start following one or more of these tips geared to help you reduce the value of your BMI, you need to really consider them all before you start. In some cases you have to invest time, effort and even money so you will most likely want them to work efficiently.

Not only that, but once you achieve certain benefic results you will probably want to keep them. For that to happen, however, you need to stick to the changes you’ve made. If you practice a sport for a few months for example, keep practicing it even if you enter the “healthy” zone of lower BMI values. This will help you continue to increase your health and keep your body mass index from going up ever again.

Some of these steps may seem unusual or difficult; however, once you try them and if you are motivated enough to stick with them despite the initial seeming lack of results, you will gradually notice how much your life has improved. Once you become aware of all the incredible changes, your motivation will be greatly increased and you will have no problem in bringing your BMI to a better level in practically no time.