{"id":3111,"date":"2023-04-26T02:36:38","date_gmt":"2023-04-25T15:36:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lifeprogram.org.au\/2023\/04\/26\/healthybodymassindexbmi\/"},"modified":"2024-02-15T10:08:24","modified_gmt":"2024-02-14T23:08:24","slug":"healthybodymassindexbmi","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lifeprogram.org.au\/health-hub\/healthybodymassindexbmi\/","title":{"rendered":"Understanding How to Interpret Body Mass Index (BMI) in Australia"},"content":{"rendered":"

In this article, we introduce you to the basics of how to interpret Body Mass Index (BMI), what a healthy BMI is, why it\u2019s important and how you can achieve it to lead a healthier life<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n

What is BMI?<\/span><\/h2>\n

Body Mass Index (BMI)is a system of classifying the body weight of adults.\u00a0A person\u2019s BMI score helps to show whether their weight is in a healthy range.<\/span><\/p>\n

Getting an accurate BMI<\/span><\/h2>\n

To work out your BMI score, you need to know:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    \n
  1. your height in metres<\/span><\/li>\n
  2. your weight in kilograms.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Your measurements should be as accurate as possible. Weigh yourself for a few days in a row, at the same time each day. Getting on the scales naked is the easiest way to achieve consistency.<\/span><\/p>\n

    It\u2019s more difficult to get an accurate height measurement, especially if you\u2019re trying to do it on your own. The easiest and best way is to ask a health professional to do it for you.<\/span><\/p>\n

    Working out your BMI score<\/span><\/h2>\n

    Once you\u2019ve got your weight and height measurements, you can calculate your BMI score.<\/span><\/p>\n

    To do this, you divide your weight in kilograms by your height in metres squared.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    The calculation is: BMI = <\/span>weight (in kg) \/ [height (in m)]<\/span>2<\/span><\/p>\n

    For example, if your weight is 52 kg and your height is 1.63 m, your calculation would be: 52 \u00f7 (1.63 x 1.63)\u00a0= a BMI of 20.<\/span><\/p>\n

    There are easy-to-use online BMI calculators such as this one on the <\/span>Better Health Channel<\/span><\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    What does your BMI score mean?<\/span><\/h2>\n

    Once you\u2019ve worked out your BMI score, you can see which BMI category you\u2019re in and what that means about your weight. If your BMI is:<\/span><\/p>\n