| Basing your weight solely on your ideal body | | | | heavier than medically recommended. I reckon it |
| mass index is just a part of arriving at what is | | | | is just a good excuse to eat more. |
| considered "ideal weight". Other factors must be | | | | Several BMI charts can be found online to |
| considered to arrive at what is ideal for you. This | | | | determine your Body Mass Index, if you are not |
| includes weight to hip ration (WHR), percentage of | | | | the type who wants to do any math. BMI |
| fat, muscle and bone mass, type of body frame, | | | | categories are as follows: |
| and others. | | | | A BMI range of below 18.5 underweight; a range |
| Weight gain and body mass have long been | | | | of 18.5 to 24.9 is normal weight; a range of 25.0 |
| known to be risk factors for breast cancer, heart | | | | and above is overweight; and a range of 30 and |
| disease, diabetes, and most other diseases as | | | | above is obese. |
| well. The most accurate assessment of your ideal | | | | The normal acceptable range of this |
| healthy weight takes into account the composition | | | | measurement is 20.1 to 25.0 for men, and 18.5 to |
| of your body - how much of it is lean body mass | | | | 23.8 for women. Athletes and body builders are |
| (muscle and bone) and how much is body fat. For | | | | exempt from this range. Their extra muscle may |
| optimum health, body fat should not be more | | | | tip their BMI over the normal range. |
| than 20% of total body weight for men and 30% | | | | Do not forget to consider other factors when |
| for women. | | | | charting your ideal body mass index. |
| To achieve our optimum healthy weight, the Body | | | | All information on this web page is for |
| Mass Index formula or the BMI chart can be a | | | | informational purposes only. It is not intended to |
| starting point to set a benchmark for our healthy | | | | diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any health |
| weight goals. Unfortunately, most women have | | | | problem - nor is it intended to replace the advice |
| their own ingrained beliefs about what a woman's | | | | of a qualified medical practitioner, health |
| ideal weight should be, thanks to the marketing | | | | practitioner, or fitness professional. No action |
| and advertising campaigns of fashion and beauty | | | | should be taken solely on the contents of this |
| consumer products. Most of the time, a woman's | | | | website. Always consult your physician or qualified |
| ideal weight is far below their actual "ideal weight", | | | | health professional on any matters regarding your |
| and not even a realistic goal. Men, on the other | | | | health or on any opinions expressed within this |
| hand, tend to think that their ideal weight as | | | | website. |