There is a lot of buzz going around about weight loss, and a lot of different words that get thrown around. BMI is a word that gets tossed around quite a bit, but not everybody knows exactly what that is or what it means.

What does BMI stand for?
BMI stands for body mass index, and it uses your current weight and height to determine which of four general categories you fall into: underweight, normal or healthy, overweight, or obese. By putting your height and weight into a BMI calculator, you will be given a number. You can then see where you fall on the BMI scale.

Underweight: 
If your BMI is less than 18.5, you are considered to be underweight. Keep in mind that being underweight is just as unhealthy as being overweight. If you feel that you are eating normally and still aren’t able to gain weight, you may need to consult a doctor to determine if there is a medical reason for you being unable to gain weight. Your doctor can also advise you on how you can get up to a healthy weight in a healthy way.

Normal or Healthy: 
If your BMI is between 18.5 and 24.9, you are considered to be in the normal or healthy range. At this range, there’s really nothing special that you need to be doing except to continue to make healthy choices in regards to diet and exercise. Even if you are on the higher end of this scale, you do not necessarily need to lose weight.

Overweight: 
If your BMI is between 25 and 29.9, you are considered to be overweight. Being overweight has been linked to a number of health concerns, the worst being heart disease and diabetes. For that reason, if you fall in this range, it is important that you begin to make healthy lifestyle changes that will help you to begin to lose weight. Now is the perfect time to begin eating healthy foods, and exercising more often.

Obese: 
If your BMI is 30 or above, you are considered to be obese. Falling in this range means that your risk of heart disease, diabetes, and cancer has gone up significantly. It is extremely important that you see a doctor as soon as possible so that you can begin a diet and exercise regimen. Studies have shown that obesity can cut a person’s life expectancy down by 8 years. If you feel as though you are eating healthy and getting plenty of exercise but are still gaining weight, it may be due to a hormonal imbalance or other medical problem that you can consult your doctor with.

Conclusion: 
BMI is a great way to indicate where you are in terms of your weight loss. Since people at different heights and builds have different normal weights, BMI is a way to quickly determine if you are in the right range. Once you have discovered where you fall on the BMI scale, you can then decide what your next step is, whether you need to gain or lose weight, or keep on the path you’re already on. If you are on a weight loss program, tracking your BMI can help you check your progress.