What’s your number?

Body mass index (BMI) may not be the first thing that comes to mind when thinking about your health, but it’s important to understand what it is and to know your number.

What is BMI?

Essentially, BMI is a simple mathematical formula that calculates how over-or underweight a person is, based on their height and weight. Research has shown that being overweight (having a BMI of 25 and over) could result in health risks. On the other hand, being too thin and having a BMI that’s below the healthy range (18.5 to 24.9) can also be a health concern.

Calculate your BMI here

So what does your number mean?

BMI OF LESS THAN 18.5

A BMI of less than 18.5 indicates that you are underweight, so you may need to put on some weight

BMI OF 18.5 – 25

A BMI of 18.5 – 25 indicates that you are at a healthy weight for your height. By maintaining a healthy weight, you lower your risk of developing serious health problems.

BMI OF 25 – 30

A BMI of 25 – 30 indicates that you are slightly overweight. You may be advised to lose some weight for health reasons.

BMI OF OVER 30

A BMI of over 30 indicates that you are heavily overweight. Your health may be at risk if you do not lose weight.

What can you do?

The first step toward shrinking your waistline and getting your BMI in line is to start eating plans and advice and getting regular exercise. For help and tips, see our healthy eating plans for men and women. You can also contact us on +27 (0) 83 425 1868 for further advice on any of our Herbex products.

Remember, dropping as little as 5%-10% of your body weight can bring dramatic improvements in blood pressure, blood cholesterol and blood sugar.

A side note

As a guideline, a BMI does not take into account age, gender, or muscle mass. Due to muscle weighing more than fat, some people, such as heavily muscled athletes, may have a high BMI even though they don’t have a high percentage of body fat. In others, such as elderly people, their BMI may appear normal even though muscle has been lost with aging. The BMI does not apply to children.