#Children's bmi calculator nhs plus

Yes, says Dr Michelle Celander, WeightWatchers® program and Science Director. Please see your GP if you’re concerned about your child’s weight.īlack, Asian and other minority ethnic groups with a BMI of 23 or more have a higher risk of getting type 2 diabetes and other long term illnesses. This BMI calculator has been designed to calculate the body mass index of adults. The BMI calculation isn’t always accurate for people under 5 foot tall, who might be shown a ‘healthy’ result even if they are carrying too much body fat. If you have a BMI of 30 or above, your midwife should give you information about the additional risks as well as how these can be minimised and about any additional care you may need. You should have your BMI calculated at your first antenatal booking appointment. People who carry a lot of muscle but little fat (such as bodybuilders and athletes including boxers and rugby players) may fall into the ‘overweight’ or ‘obese’ category when calculating their BMI - despite the fact that they may be fit and healthy. BMI results may be a less reliable indicator of health for certain demographics, including: Older peopleīecause muscle mass tends to drop and body fat tends to rise in older people, BMI may not be an accurate reflector of body fat if you're over 60. While it takes height into consideration, it does not account for factors such as waist or hip measurements, proportion or distribution of fat, or proportion of muscle mass. Is BMI reliable?īMI is a very simple measurement. Research has made the connection between having a higher BMI and an increased risk of a number of diseases, including heart disease, type 2 diabetes, osteoarthritis and certain types of cancer including breast cancer. The same BMI measurements apply to both genders as the same risks of developing weight-related illness applies to both women and men. What is a healthy BMI?įor most adults, an ideal BMI is in the 18.5 to 24.9 range. Enter your weight and height into our BMI calculator to find your result. The formula is BMI = lb/in2 where lb is a person’s weight in pounds and in2 is their height in inches squared. You can use the BMI calculator at the top of this page to work out the BMI for you and the adults in your family.īMI is a simple calculation using a person’s height and weight.

#Children's bmi calculator nhs plus

It estimates percentage of body fat, and is used to broadly determine if you’re a healthy weight for your height.Ī higher percentage of body fat is proven to be associated with increased risk for developing certain diseases such as heart disease, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, breathing problems, cancers and a higher risk of early death.īeing underweight may indicate underlying medical conditions or an eating disorder, plus higher risk for conditions such as osteoporosis. Not only can regular exercise help maintain a healthy weight, it can also reduce your risk of major illness and keep your mental wellbeing in check.Ĭurrent NHS guidelines state both men and women should not exceed more than 14 units of alcohol per week.īMI - otherwise known as body mass index - is a simple measure of weight in relation to height. Weighing out your foods and tracking your meals can help with this. Keep an eye on your portion sizes if you notice your BMI starting to creep up. Make sure your diet has a good mix of fruit, vegetables, starchy foods, and proteins, with a smaller amount of high fat or high sugar foods. There are lots of small steps you can take to maintain a healthy BMI, including small changes to what you eat, how you exercise, and your daily habits, such as: The WeightWatchers programme encourages members to focus on realistic weight-loss goals and provides the skills and techniques to help you achieve them. Even if that’s not enough to push you into a healthy weight range, it’s a great start when you’re overweight, with research showing it’s enough to deliver health benefits, like lowering risk factors for type 2 diabetes and heart disease. A good initial goal to aim for is losing 10% per cent of your body weight.