With the internet’s boom in health and fitness, people are becoming more conscious of their figures. However, excess body fat is a mainstream reality in many places.
So, how much body fat is good for your health? To answer this, we need to evaluate one’s Body Mass Index. At the end of this article, you will learn answers to what BMI should I be for my age? Is BMI even relevant or not? What other measures can you consider to assess body fat?
What Is BMI?
The Body Mass Index helps a person identify if they have a healthy weight for their body. Future health problems may result if a person weighs less than or more than is ideal for their height.
Your BMI can help you identify whether you have a healthy weight or are you overweight, underweight, or obese. Alternately, you can measure your weight in kilograms and height in meters.
How To Calculate My BMI For My Age?
- One can determine their body mass index, also known as BMI, online and offline.
- Body mass includes your muscles, bones, and other tissues and the body’s fat. For calculation, you have to divide the body weight by the square of your height. If you are underweight or overweight, or if your weight falls within the normal range, you may find out using the BMI numbers.
- Several health issues, particularly as you age, are exacerbated by high and low BMIs. A high BMI is not necessarily a cause for concern, though, from a medical standpoint. When evaluating it, one should also take other health indicators into account.
BMI = Weight / (Height)^2
If your BMI is in the range –
- < 18.5, then you are underweight
- 18.5 -24.9, then you are healthy.
- 24.9 – 29.9, you are overweight.
- 30 -34.9, then you are Class I obese.
- 35 – 39.9, then you are Class II obese.
- 40 <, then you are Class III obese.
Is BMI Calculator Reliable?
Your BMI can determine whether your weight is suitable for your height. Although some people may naturally have a wider frame, the BMI range allows for these variations.
You can use the BMI calculation to determine whether you have normal weight, are overweight, or are obese.
Overweight pupils are more susceptible to developing lifestyle diseases, especially in the midsection. These diseases might be diabetes, cancer, or heart problems.
The BMI provides a reliable measure of adult weight-related health issues. Doctors accurately record your height, weight, and BMI to determine your future health risks.
They will likely suggest a diet and exercise plan to help you lose weight if your BMI is greater than it should be.
As A Man, What Should My BMI Be For My Age?
According to the Centers for Disease Control, those with a BMI of 30 or more are obese. Those between 18.5 and 25 are normal, those under 18.5 are underweight, and those between 25 and 29 are overweight.
Generally, taller men should weigh 2 to 4 points per inch of height than shorter men. Even though your BMI depends on factors like height, body type, and gender, your propensity to gain weight increases as you age.
As A Woman, What Is A Good BMI For My Age?
The ideal overweight, underweight, and obese BMI categories are identical for both sexes. Women with a BMI between 22.5 and 24.9 had a 13% lower chance of dying than one who was overweight yet never smoked.
Obese or very obese women had noticeably greater odds of dying young. According to the research, participants with a BMI between 30 and 35 had a 44% higher chance of dying. Those between 35 and 40 had an 88% higher risk, and those between 40 and 49 had a 25% higher risk of dying.
Demerits Of BMI Calculator
Despite their ubiquity, BMI measurements have certain limitations in foretelling future health problems.
The formula doesn’t account for your body’s composition. It just uses your height and weight.
Therefore, even if you are in excellent condition and are not likely to experience weight-related health problems shortly, your muscle and bone mass distribution may raise your BMI.
Let’s examine the drawbacks of using BMI for various age groups in more detail:
In Adults
BMI isn’t an absolute measure to define whether an adult male is healthy or not.
Therefore, individuals should use their BMI and other metrics to identify their potential health concerns.
The following are some cons of using BMI for adults:
- Older folks with the same BMI are likely to have more fat than younger people.
- When comparing genders with the same BMI, women are more likely to have higher body fat percentages.
- People who are physically fit and athletic often have higher BMIs than the normal person due to their more muscle mass.
In Children And Young Adults
If you are a teenager wondering, what should be my BMI for my age? The answer is, there isn’t an absolute BMI for a certain age for anyone.
The algorithm for calculation excludes the growth and maturity of children. Thus, BMI can diagnose overweight but not obese youngsters. The increase in fat-free mass could raise a slightly higher BMI.
Albeit the contradiction, BMI is still good for predicting the body fat of about 90% of the population.
Conclusion
From the facts mentioned above, now you know that relevancy of BMI isn’t an absolute measure for a healthy body. It misses out on several aspects, including losing muscle mass with time.
Thus, you can consider other calculative measures with BMI rather than relying on one method. These may include Body fat percentage, Waist-to-Height Ratio, and Waist-to-hip ratio.
Self-diagnosing at home may give an inaccurate reading. This is because you will miss out on several factors that directly or indirectly affect your life. We suggest you consult a nutritionist for better assessment.
