Contents:
- Medical Video: BMI vs Body Fat
- What is body mass index?
- How to read the results of the body mass index?
- How to calculate body mass index for children?
Medical Video: BMI vs Body Fat
Everyone must know their body mass index. Body mass index is a detector that is usually done at the beginning to find out whether a person is at risk of developing a chronic disease or not. Then, how do you calculate it?
What is body mass index?
Body mass index is a measure used to determine a person's nutritional status obtained from the ratio of weight and height. Therefore, each person must calculate what the IMT value is to know their nutritional status is normal or not.
Calculation of BMI is to divide the weight (in kilograms) by height (in meters squared). For example, you have a weight of 68 kg with a height of 165 cm (16.5 meters).
So the IMT value that is owned is: 68 ÷ (1.65 × 1.65) = 24.98 Kg / m2
To make things easier, you can find out the body mass index value in this BMI Calculator or at the following link bit.ly/indeksmassatubuh
Body mass index is the easiest way to find out whether a person is at risk of experiencing a chronic disease or not. Although indeed the BMI value cannot be used to measure body fat levels which are also important to know.
Body mass index is an assessment tool that can be done to help diagnose one disease. However, just calculating BMI is not enough to enforce a diagnosis of the disease. Doctors will usually advise you to do various other medical examinations.
How to read the results of the body mass index?
If you have obtained an IMT score, then that number shows the nutritional status categorized as follows:
| Body mass index | Weight Status |
| Under 18.5 | Less weight (underweight) |
| 18.5 – 22.9 | Normal or healthy |
| 23.0 – 24.9 | More weight (overweight)) |
| 25.0 and above | Obesity |
This category is the same for men and women with all body types and ages. However, for children and adolescents, body mass index needs to be calculated in a special way based on gender and age. This is because the amount of body fat changes with age and differs between girls and boys.
How to calculate body mass index for children?
To find out whether your child has a good nutritional status, the body mass index must be calculated by medical personnel. Because, there are ways and special tables that are used as a benchmark to see the value of a child's BMI.
BMI of children is not the same as adult BMI because children are still experiencing growth so that their weight and height are unstable or constant. In Indonesia, children under the age of 2 years, BMI calculations are based on the curves of the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention). While children aged over 2 years, can be seen from the WHO growth table (World Health Organization).
So, you should check your child to the doctor to find out the condition and nutritional status. That way, you can know whether your little one is thin, overweight or normal.
Hello Health Group does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.
