Calculating Your BMI

For years, people have been misled and frustrated by confusing weight charts and bathroom scales.  Doctors have used the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company’s height-weight charts to tell you what you "should" weigh. The new gold standard is knowing your BMI (body-mass index) and being aware of the significance of where you carry your weight (apple or pear style).

You can compute your BMI by dividing your weight in kilograms by the square of your height in meters.  Better yet, click into Koop Group's Web site and it will do it for you: http://vww.shapeup.org/usa. (Or fax/e-mail me your height and weight and I’ll let you know how you're doing.)

BMI calculations, however, are not recommended for people with high muscle mass, the elderly, or children or women who are pregnant and lactating.  Some research has also shown that ethnic origin may impact the effectiveness of standard BMI measurement.

CALL US: 888.LIF.WALK

Kate is a senior partner with CLC, Inc.