by: Leonard Achan RN, MA, ANP

BMI (Body Mass Index) wasinvented between 1830 and 1850 by the Belgian mathematician Adolphe Quetelet. He was not a physician and was not looking for a way to label or diagnose individuals. He was actually looking at how create a tool that could identify weight problems within a population.

Since then, BMI has been used by clinicians, physicians, trainers, gyms, diet/exercise gurus, etc. to help categorize you into different weight classes. While both ends of the spectrum have their own risks and BMI becomes more and more controversial, it is still used to set guidelines and often perceived to indicate health or wellness. While weight alone can never be an overall predictor of health, it may still be a good tool to help guide you. Tell us what you think about BMI after determining your own.

Lets first start by calculating your BMI. Follow this formula below to see where you land on the scale.

Your BMI = your weight in pounds / (height in inches x height in inches) x 70

CDC Recommendations based on your BMI say:

Below 18.5 = Underweight

18.5 to 24.9 = Ideal

25.0 to 29.9 = Overweight

30.0 and above = Obese

***teens and children under the age of 20 years old should use the BMI calculator at:

http://apps.nccd.cdc.gov/dnpabmi/

So, is Body Mass Index (BMI) a good indicator of your weight and health?