How to correctly calculate body mass index. Ideal weight: how to calculate body mass index (BMI)

We offer you a convenient BMI calculator, a decoding based on age and normal body measurements can be found below, and instructions for using this application are also provided there.

Beauty and health are two main values ​​in our lives. The constant criterion of beauty is harmony.

How harmonious is your body? How consistent are your weight and height, age and body type? One of the most common indicators – body mass index (BMI) – will help you assess this.

Body mass index is a parameter that determines the correspondence between a person’s height and weight. Exceeding the norm indicates an excess of adipose tissue and warns of the danger of obesity; a decrease is also an alarming signal: it indicates both insufficient nutrition (starvation) and problems with digestion.

How to correctly calculate a person's body mass index

The formula for determining body mass index was proposed in 1869 by Adolphe Quetelet, a Belgian sociologist and statistician: BMI is equal to body weight M, measured in kilograms, divided by the square of height L, measured in meters:

BMI=M[kg]/L^2[m]

The resulting number falls within the range of 15-40, but the normal range for people 19-40 years old is 19-25, and after 40 – 19-30.

All these figures refer to people of normosthenic physique.

Finding out your body type is easy. You need to measure your wrist at the narrowest point: a normal value is 18-20 cm for men and 15-17 for women.

A narrower wrist is a sign of asthenic build, "thin bone", wider is inherent in the hypersthenic type, "broad bone".

The easiest way to determine this without measuring is to grab your wrist with your thumb and forefinger.

If the fingers overlap each other - you are asthenic; if (almost) touching – you have a normal physique; if they do not reach each other significantly - you have a hypersthenic type.

Asthenics are usually tall, thin, they build muscle with difficulty, normosthenics are proportionally built and look harmonious, and hypersthenics are prone to being overweight and even obese.


Recommended parameters for different body types may shift towards decrease (for asthenics) or increase (for hypersthenics). There are detailed tables of BMI indicators for different body types.

Online calculation using a calculator

Place the “weight” slider at the point corresponding to your current weight, and use the “height” slider to record your height. The third slider will install itself and show BMI.

Example: for a girl 27 years old, height 168 cm, weight 71 kg, the BMI is equal to 25.2 - which slightly outside the acceptable range.

If the resulting number does not fit into the norm, you weigh more or less than you need.

It is easy to calculate the recommended weight: fix the height slider and move the weight slider to the left (if the permissible weight is exceeded) until you get an index of 25; the resulting weight is the maximum allowable value for you.

Continuing to drag the slider to the left until the number 19 appears on the bottom line will give you the bottom border.

In our example, BMI will fall in the range of 19-25 if the weight is from 53.6 to 70.5 kg. Of course, there is such a wide range “ norms” is difficult to consider as a guide to action, so below we will provide a more precise formula for determining “ ideal mass“.

The following video will tell you how to calculate body mass index (BMI) without a calculator:

Interpretation of results

A high index indicates overweight, a low index indicates underweight. Both is a deviation from the norm.

The cause of insufficient weight can be fasting, complications after surgery, significant physical activity, as well as digestive problems. Excess weight is directly linked to obesity.

The World Health Organization (WHO) in 1997 adopted the following classification of diseases associated with BMI:

  • less than 15– critical lack of mass, dystrophy;
  • 15- 18,5 – weight below normal, increased risk of diseases of the digestive tract;
  • 18,5- 24,9 – norm;
  • 25-29,9 - overweight;
  • 30-34,9 – obesity of the 1st degree;
  • 35-39,9 – II degree obesity;
  • more than 40– III degree obesity.

Excess adipose tissue can cause a variety of pathologies: heart disease, hypertension, joint diseases, .

Avoid overeating and listen to your body, remembering to undergo regular preventative medical examinations.

Normal values ​​for women and men

The BMI calculator is not applicable to children and adolescents under 18 years of age. For them, there are so-called centile tables, which present the average values ​​of height and weight at a given age. If the child’s parameters fit into these fairly broad frameworks, then there is nothing to worry about.

The method does not work for pregnant women either– but it’s unlikely that any of them will be very upset about this.

With age, a person’s weight usually increases, so the permissible BMI range also shifts.

For example, there is such a classification depending on age.

Age – BMI

  • 19-24 – 19-24;
  • 25-34 – 20-25;
  • 35-44 – 21-26;
  • 44-58 – 22-27;
  • after 58 – 23-28.

However, for lean people, underestimated numbers are not a deviation, but only indicate the limited applicability of this method.

Disadvantages and Limitations

The above Quetelet formula does not take into account the different specific gravity of muscle and adipose tissue. Since muscle is heavier than fat, in people with highly developed muscles (athletes, bodybuilders) BMI can be increased in the absence of body fat.

The location of adipose tissue deposition, as well as the percentage of visceral (internal) fat, also plays a role. Most “harmful” fat settles in the waist and abdomen.

There is hardly a person who would not care about his appearance. Each of us wants to look attractive - to have ideal body proportions, maybe even become a new standard of beauty. But, as you know, we are all different - in height, age, configuration.

In many ways, a person’s sense of self is influenced by his weight. Accordingly, the higher it is, the more uncomfortable we feel. It is unlikely that there will be a person who will refuse to calculate the ideal weight for him. As mentioned earlier, we are all different, which means our body weight will be individual.

Methods for calculating ideal weight

We are different from each other, and each has its own beauty. And in pursuit of the ideal figure, it wouldn’t hurt to find out the exact weight you need to strive for. This will make it easier to control the distance traveled and the remaining path to your standard.

When calculating your ideal weight, remember that you should first of all feel comfortable with these kilograms. Because some people are crazy about protruding collarbones, while others, on the contrary, prefer curvy shapes.

Despite all individual preferences, doctors have set a kind of framework for determining the lack or excess of kilograms. To date, a great many online calculators and various tables have been developed and compiled. Many experts are studying the question of how to calculate weight by height, age, and gender. But they did not come to a consensus.

The most well-known calculation methods:

  • According to Kettle
  • According to Brock.
  • According to Egorov-Levitsky.
  • According to Lorenz.

You can independently calculate weight by height and age using any of the methods. And having learned the treasured figure, you can begin the path to your standard.

Calculation of BMI of Adolphe Quetelet

It is worth immediately warning that this method will not calculate the ideal weight. According to Quetelet, you need to calculate After, based on your current weight and height, focusing on the result and the developed table, to obtain information about the need to gain weight or lose weight.

Egorov-Levitsky table

When compiling, the developers took into account all the most important factors that shape weight. They indicated only the maximum limit, but did not specify the minimum. And, in fact, it is not necessary. After all, a person is mainly concerned about excess kilograms, and not their lack.

How to achieve your ideal weight

If, after you have calculated your weight by age, height and gender, you find that you have a couple of extra pounds, then it’s time to think about eliminating them.

By trying to maintain your ideal body weight, you are doing your body a huge favor. In many developed countries, overweight people make up fifty percent of the total population. And every year their number increases significantly. - This is an additional, unnecessary burden on the human body. It affects the joints and internal organs to a greater extent. But, nevertheless, it is worth noting that being thin is also not beneficial. The golden mean in the matter of weight is what any person needs.

Once you decide to lose weight, don’t try to find a miracle-working, quick diet. There is no such thing. It will not bring any benefit, but it is quite capable of weakening the body. It is best to lose weight gradually. After all, in fact, getting rid of excess weight is not difficult; difficulties arise when trying to maintain it.

A weight loss method in which you lose from five hundred grams to one kilogram per week is considered safe. If the weight comes off faster, it means you are burning not only fat, but also muscle fiber. And this absolutely cannot be allowed. Since with well-developed muscles it is easier to maintain optimal weight.

Steps to ideal weight:

  • Drink a glass of clean drinking water on an empty stomach, and fifteen minutes before starting any meal.
  • Don't skip breakfast. And you shouldn’t skip any meal. After all, this way you will get hungry and eat even more next time. And, as you know, it is better to eat many times, but a little at a time.
  • Try to reduce your fat intake.
  • Come to the store with a shopping list prepared in advance. This way you won’t be tempted to grab something unnecessary and harmful.
  • Chew your food thoroughly. This way you will not only not choke, but will also get full faster. By eating food slowly, the feeling of hunger quickly disappears.
  • If you feel like you're not full and need more, then the first thing you need to do is take your time. Sit for about five minutes. And then think about whether the feeling of hunger is really that strong.
  • Eat strictly in the kitchen. Under no circumstances should you eat food while standing or walking.
  • Add a fresh fruit or vegetable to every meal.
  • Avoid white bread.
  • Stew and bake. Try not to fry food.
  • Allow yourself sweets no more than once a week.
  • Avoid fast food.
  • The optimal number of meals per day is five.
  • Prepare your own food more often. This way you will control the methods of its processing and caloric intake.

BMI table for online calculator:

BMI or body mass index signals the general condition of the body; of course, the indicator is quite average, however, it works and shows the required value. The online body mass index calculator allows you to quickly calculate the indicator based on data such as a person’s body weight, height, gender and age.

Be careful and scrupulous with your body; excess or lack of weight is a big problem that can be avoided if you use the tips at the end of the article.

Using the BMI calculator is simple; after receiving the index, check it with the values ​​in the table; in the second column opposite your value is an approximate diagnosis (we repeat, it is approximate, only the attending physician can determine the exact one). The main thing for us is to imagine the whole picture and build a strategy for consuming food and using physical activity for the future in order to strengthen and maintain the body in excellent condition.

BMI – body mass index– This indicator depends on the body’s fat resources and can correspond to the norm, be excessive or deficient. Many people have a body mass index that is far from optimal. It is not for nothing that BMI appeared in medical records as a key risk factor for morbidity and began to be taken into account in diagnosis.

What is your body mass index, can we determine it using an online calculator?

According to WHO, half of the people on the planet die today not from dangerous infections, as in past eras. The main enemies of man are fast food, overeating, stress, “sedentary” work and “sofa” leisure.

A whole generation of people has grown up suffering from obesity and doomed to type 2 diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular diseases, osteochondrosis and many other dangerous ailments. The asymptomatic period of these pathologies can drag on for years, during which the body’s strength will slowly but surely be undermined. An increased body mass index will warn about the destructive activity of a latent disease.

  • In turn, a lowered BMI will signal another deviation from the norm - painful exhaustion of a person. This condition should also cause concern.
  • An organism with insufficient fat deposits is not able to cope with its functions normally and resist diseases. A deficiency of fat tissue can be a sign of type 1 diabetes, osteoporosis, digestive disorders, breathing or mental problems.
  • In any case, your body mass index will allow you to come to your senses in time and begin to restore your physical shape.
  • Of course, on the path to perfection you will need to pull yourself together, get rid of bad habits, and sacrifice destructive addictions. However, the game is worth the effort, because the most valuable thing at stake is your life.

How to correctly calculate body mass index?

To find out this indicator, you need to determine your weight (in kilograms) and measure your height (in meters). Then the number indicating the weight should be divided by the number obtained by squaring the digital expression of height. In other words, you need to use a formula that conveys the ratio of body weight to height:

BMI = M/P 2

(M – body weight, P – height in meters)

For example, your weight is 64 kg, height is 165 cm, or 1.65 m. We substitute your data into the formula and get: BMI = 64: (1.65 x 1.65) = 26.99. Now you can turn to the official medical interpretation of BMI values:

  • it does not take into account the ratio of muscle and fat mass, so BMI will not be able to adequately reflect the health status of a bodybuilder engaged in building muscle potential: if he calculates the body mass index using Quetelet’s formula, the results will show him in the company of loose fat people;
  • These calculations are not suitable for older people: for 60-70 year old pensioners, being somewhat overweight is not considered dangerous to health, so the BMI range for them can be expanded from 22 to 26.

If you are not an elderly person or a bodybuilder, then Quetelet’s formula will do a good job of assessing the balance of your parameters. The magnitude of the error in this case will not interfere with understanding whether you are normal or not.

It should be kept in mind that the medical community's understanding of normal BMI may change over time. This was already the case on the threshold of the third millennium, when the BMI recommended by doctors dropped from 27.8 to 25. But Israeli scientists have proven that a body mass index of 25-27 is optimal for men: with this index they are guaranteed the longest life expectancy.

BMI standards for women and men

Normal BMI for women Description
Women over 18 years of age: 16 and under
Women over 30: 17 and under
Mass deficit
Women over 18 years old: 16 - 19.5
Women over 30 years old: 17 - 19.9
Underweight
Women over 18 years of age: 19.6 - 22.9
Women over 30 years old: 20.0 - 23.9
Norm
Women over 18 years of age: 23.0 - 27.5
Women after 30 years: 24.0 - 28.0
Excess body weight
Women over 18 years of age: 27.6 - 29.9
Women over 30 years old: 28.1 - 31.0
Women over 18 years of age: 30.0 - 35.0
Women after 30 years: 31.1 - 36.0
Women over 18 years of age: 35.1 - 39.9
Women over 30 years old: 36.1 - 41.0
Women over 18 years of age: 40.0 and more
Women after 30 years: 41.1 and more
Normal BMI for men Description
Men over 18 years of age: 18 and under
Men over 30: 19 or less
Mass deficit
Men over 18 years old: 18 - 21.5
Men over 30 years old: 19 - 21.9
Underweight
Men over 18 years of age: 21.6 - 24.9
Men over 30 years old: 22.0 - 25.9
Norm
Men over 18 years of age: 25.0 - 29.5
Men over 30 years old: 26.0 - 30.0
Excess body weight
Men over 18 years of age: 29.6 - 31.9
Men over 30 years old: 30.1 - 33.0
Painful fullness - 1st degree
Men over 18 years of age: 32.0 - 37.0
Men over 30 years old: 33.1 - 38.0
Painful fullness - 2nd degree
Men over 18 years of age: 37.1 - 41.9
Men over 30 years old: 38.1 - 43.0
Painful fullness - 3rd degree
Men over 18 years of age: 42.0 and more
Men over 30 years old: 43.1 and more
Painful fullness - 4th degree

Limitations in using the method

Like other tests for assessing weight, calculating body mass index is not universal. The formula has a number of limitations, including criteria such as age and body type.

Who shouldn't use BMI to determine their health and fitness?

  1. Pregnant and lactating women.
  2. Children and teenagers under 18 years of age.
  3. Professional athletes (in their case, a high figure will be obtained due to large muscle mass).

imbf.org

How to calculate body mass index online using a calculator?

Our online calculator will become your fast and accurate assistant in calculating your BMI. You don't have to manually multiply and divide. The automatic program of an electronic calculator will save you from this puzzle.

Its operating principle is simple and clear. You only need to take three steps:

  1. Please indicate your gender (for physiological reasons, the BMI for women is usually lower than for men).
  2. Note your height (in centimeters) and weight (in kilograms).
  3. Enter the full number of your years in the appropriate field.

After filling out the entire calculator form, click the “Calculate” button. Having received data from you, the program will immediately produce the correct result with recommendations from specialists.

You'll learn what to do if your index is less than optimal or begins to drift away from it. Even if you still have a normal BMI, you should not neglect the wishes outlined here. Then you will not have health problems in the future.

simpledoc.ru

Body Mass Index Formula

How to calculate body mass index, or how, in fact, is body mass index calculated? Weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared.

That is, it turns out that the weight is distributed over square meters of “human area”. It looks implausible, but it works great and is still actively used by the World Health Organization in the treatment of people suffering from obesity or dystrophy. The body mass index measured using this formula allows one to interpret the condition and prescribe adequate therapy in case of deviation from the norm.

Why do you need to calculate body weight?

  • A body mass index meter is an important tool for measuring a person’s physical condition; it allows you to promptly identify risk factors for developing diseases associated with obesity or underweight.
  • An elevated body mass index is the first signal that serious pathologies may begin to develop.
  • If you have a high body mass index, you are at greater risk for cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, or gastrointestinal problems.
  • You can (and should) avoid all these troubles by calculating your body mass index in a timely manner, free and quickly, and in case of deviation from the norm, take measures to stop the pathology.

How to use the calculator?

You enter your height and weight parameters into the table fields, and then click “Start” to calculate your body mass index online. In a few seconds you will see your result. The Body Mass Index calculator program will perform all the necessary mathematical operations on its own; all you have to do is interpret the result.
Body mass index – norm and deviation. How to interpret BMI calculation results

The data obtained after calculating the body mass index can be interpreted in accordance with the standards calculated by the World Health Organization.

  • If your body mass index is less than 18.5, you are underweight.
  • If the calculator sees your body mass index in the range from 19 to 24.9, it means that your condition is normal, the body mass index does not exceed acceptable limits.
  • If your BMI calculation is between 25 and 29.9, it means you are overweight and need to be corrected with a special diet and aerobic exercise as you have a significantly increased risk of developing obesity-related diseases .
  • If your body mass index meter goes beyond 30, then you should immediately contact an endocrinologist for treatment of severe obesity, possibly associated with hormonal imbalances in the body.


Body mass index - not only this indicator is important for women

You should also keep in mind: the “Online Body Mass Index” calculator shows fairly average results, which may differ slightly from the true state of affairs, and the state of the medical norm may differ from aesthetic comfort. That is, a weight considered normal is not an analogue of a slim figure. The disadvantage of calculating body mass index for women using Quetelet’s formula is that the content of muscle mass in the female body is naturally lower than in men. That is, the body mass index for men works more correctly, while for women the body mass index will show a “normal” state even in the presence of quite noticeable fat deposits.

To correctly assess the condition of your body, calculate the percentage of fat, muscle, bones and water, and based on the data obtained formulate a program of action to improve your appearance, we recommend reading the ARTICLE ABOUT FLOOR SCALES WITH A FAT ANALYZER and the rules for using this indispensable assistant for women losing weight.

love-mother.ru

How is the index calculated using the formula?

Like any relative indicators, calculating body mass index requires some reservations when used in practice. Firstly, its value can be significantly affected by your body type and bone thickness. And secondly, depending on the presence and absence of muscle mass, the same BMI value can correspond to both a rather dense and fit athletic figure.

However, these are, of course, extreme cases. Most often, the body mass index quite adequately reflects the overall picture and can serve as a guide in matters of weight loss.


Formula

Body mass index is determined using a very simple empirical relationship. To calculate it, take your weight in kilograms and divide it by the square of your height in meters. For example, the BMI for a girl with a height of 170 cm (1.7 m) and a weight of 54 kg would be 18.69.

You can memorize this simple formula to calculate your body mass index yourself, or just use our calculator.

By the way, calculating your ideal body weight is also very easy: just multiply the square of your height in meters by the desired figure within the normal range. Let's say let's take 21 as a guide. Then, with a height of 165 cm, your weight should be 57 kg (1.65²x21≈57.2 kg).www.xl-s.ru

Understanding the formula: mass and height

  • The body mass index was developed by the Belgian sociologist and statistician Adolphe Quetelet back in 1869. Since then, calculating body weight has become much easier than estimating by eye or asking friends: “I haven’t gotten fat, have I?”
  • But there are also disadvantages here: body mass index does not give a 100% result. The free online BMI calculator (which will help you calculate your body mass index) should be used for indicative purposes only.
  • For example, athletes and those who regularly go to the gym will have an inaccurate mass index because muscle literally weighs more than fat.

Interesting: BMI norms in different countries can differ markedly from each other. If you believe the WHO (World Health Organization) body mass index tables, it is not difficult to understand that the average is considered the norm. But this does not mean that a person with an average BMI would not be considered “overweight” in the conventional sense.

ANALYSIS OF RESULTS

So, you have calculated your body mass index using our calculator. Our BMI calculator is maximally adapted to the characteristics of European residents. Now it's time to interpret the data and find out the results. So:

  • 16 or less – pronounced weight deficiency,
  • 16 – 17.9 – insufficient body weight,
  • 18 – 24.9 – normal weight,
  • 25 – 29.9 – overweight (preobesity),
  • 30 – 34.9 – 1st degree obesity,
  • 35 – 39.9 – 2nd degree obesity,
  • 40 or more – grade 3 obesity (morbid).

Let us remind you once again that these data are approximate. But given the magnitude of the error, certain conclusions can be drawn: body weight is normal or far from it.

Interesting: the BMI norm may change depending on standards and trends. Until 1998, in the USA, a BMI of up to 27.8 kg/m² was considered normal, but after 1998 the standards were changed, and the BMI norm recommended by doctors began to end at 25 kg/m².

BODY MASS INDEX AND AGE

Considering that BMI indicators are not ideal, WHO “does not risk” linking them to age indicators. Although, many statistical studies show that the BMI of middle-aged people is higher than that of young and elderly people.

As for gender, then (for obvious physiological reasons) the calculated body mass index in men will be higher than the BMI in women.

Interesting: According to an Israeli study, the ideal body mass index for men is 25-27. The average life expectancy of men with this BMI was maximum.

A THING MOMENT

  • It is generally accepted that the average BMI should be slightly lower than normal so that people have something to strive for.
  • However, there is another side to the coin. The belief that a person is much above average weight can lead to low self-esteem and even depression or other mental illnesses.
  • Regardless of your mass index, try to adequately assess them and take action. We sincerely hope that this online BMI calculator and calorie calculator will help you always stay in shape!

ru.likar.info

It is recommended that already with a body mass index of 25, you should think about losing weight, especially if your waist size is large or there are other risk factors for various diseases (listed below). Even losing a small amount of body weight (eg 10%) can significantly reduce the risk of developing obesity-related diseases.

If you are overweight, but your waist is not too wide, and there are less than 2 risk factors, then the main goal is not losing weight, but preventing further weight gain.

Waist circumference measurement

It is the waist circumference that is an excellent indicator for determining the degree of abdominal obesity, which can lead to hypertension, cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes and other complications.

  • Determining your waist circumference is quite easy - just place the measuring tape horizontally around your waist so that the tape fits snugly against it.
  • For men, the norm is a waist of up to 102 cm, and for women up to 88 cm - violation of this norm means the risk of developing various complications.
  • It is especially high when a large waist circumference is combined with a high BMI, indicating overweight or one degree of obesity.
  • In addition, the risk also exists for those people who have a normal index, but their waist circumference is higher than normal.

Other risk factors for developing diseases

In addition to a BMI above 25 and a large waist circumference, there are other risk factors for diseases. These include:

  • High blood pressure (hypertension).
  • High LDL cholesterol (also called “bad” cholesterol).
  • Low HDL cholesterol ("good" cholesterol).
  • High triglyceride levels.
  • High levels of glucose (sugar) in the blood.
  • A family history of heart disease.
  • Lack of physical activity.
  • Smoking.

What BMI can tell you about your body, use the calculator

Body mass index is not intended for diagnosis; rather, it acts as an average indicator. But if you want to try a new diet or fitness program, then our calculator will help you determine your starting point. If you are overweight and have some flabby body, but the index is within the normal range, then you should focus, first of all, on exercise, and hold off on diet for now.

If the goal is to fit into old clothes and lose a few kilograms, then it is best to combine a diet and a set of exercises.

When BMI indicates obesity or a condition close to it, then you should stop looking for excuses and seriously engage in a diet and fitness program in order to protect your health.

bienhealth.com

CONSEQUENCES OF OBESITY

Sharply increased risk:

  • Diseases of the liver and gall bladder (gallbladder stones).
  • Diabetes mellitus.
  • Coronary heart disease;
  • Heart failure; arterial hypertension;
  • Respiratory failure.

Moderately increased risk:

  • Oncological diseases:
  • mammary gland;
  • endometrium;
  • ovaries;
  • prostate gland;
  • colon and rectum.
  • Menstrual irregularities.
  • Sleep disordered breathing syndrome.
  • Infertility.
  • Osteoarthrosis.
  • Varicose veins of the lower extremities.

High probability:

  1. Hirsutism (excessive hair growth).
  2. Sweating.
  3. Shortness of breath.
  4. Back pain.
  5. Incontinence of emotions.
  6. Industrial and road accidents.
  7. Non-healing of wounds.
  8. Edema and cellulite.
  9. Hyperlipidemia.

ONLY 4 MAIN CAUSES OF OBESITY

1. Overeating, unhealthy eating behavior;

2. Delay in the feeling of satiety;

3. Disorders of nutritional thermogenesis and other predisposing genetic factors;

4. Low physical activity.

Check to see if you have a predisposition to obesity?

IF YOUR RISK OF OBESITY IS HIGH, BE SURE TO CALCULATE YOUR BODY MASS INDEX BY DIVIDING YOUR WEIGHT BY HEIGHT SQUARE, AND DETERMINE THE DEGREE OF OBESITY!

BE SURE TO DETERMINE THE TYPE OF OBESITY BY MEASURING YOUR WAIST IN THE NUMBER AREA!

Risk of developing concomitant diseases(strokes, heart attacks, diabetes) depends more on the distribution of fat than on the degree. The most dangerous type of obesity is the “apple” type, which is expressed in the abdomen and chest.

The percentage of adipose tissue and internal fat is also important; a health center doctor can determine these indicators:

Body fat percentage depends on age

  • at 25 years old: men - 14% , women - 26% from body weight;
  • at 40 years old: men - 22% , women - 32% from body weight;
  • at 55 years old: men - 25% , women - 38% from body weight;

The internal fat indicator should not be more than 12!

OBESITY is a time bomb that needs to be defused,” without “exploding,” since the other side of obesity is anorexia (refusal to eat)!

You should know that fat has many beneficial functions:

  • Fats store the energy needed for life.
  • Adipose tissue retains heat in the body.
  • Adipose tissue protects against injury and softens blows.
  • Fats are involved in the formation of hormones and other biologically active substances.
  • A number of vital vitamins, mainly fat-soluble A, D, E, K, enter the body or are formed with the obligatory participation of fats.
  • Fats are part of cell membranes that protect cells from damage.

It is necessary to understand why healthy fat becomes harmful?

  • Fats should make up 30% of daily calories; in economically developed countries this figure is 40-60%. Fats improve the taste of foods and dishes. Unlike carbohydrates, they do not make you feel full when you eat, so their absorption is more difficult to control and increases weight gain.
  • When eating, a person focuses not on the calorie content of food, but on its volume. Foods rich in fat are significantly smaller in volume than those containing carbohydrates. Consequently, when eating fatty foods, the feeling of fullness comes later and the person overeats.


Energy enters the body only with food, so in order to lose weight, you need to start with a moderately hypocaloric diet, for this it is important:

Multiply the resulting number _________ by 1.3 (to ensure physical activity)

Subtract 600 kcal from the resulting number, TOTAL yours daily ration _______ kcal
(with such a deficit you will lose about 80 g of fat per day and 2.4 kg per month).

You must follow this diet for a month, then again calculate the hypocaloric diet, substituting a new one (reduced body weight) into the formula.
It is better not to use very low-calorie diets, as they cause many side effects, and the lost kilograms are quickly restored - the “VANKA-STANDA EFFECT”

In grams, calculate how much protein, fat, carbohydrates you need per day:
Squirrels = (daily ration _______ kcal * 0.19)/4.1 = _________ grams;
Fats = (daily ration _______ kcal * 0.26)/9 = _________ grams;
Carbohydrates = (daily ration _______ kcal * 0.55)/4.1 = _________ grams;

vfdzdorovie.ru

Weight deficiency and its determination using the BMI calculator

Weight deficiency, or lack of body weight is a disease that is expressed in a decrease in a person’s body weight below the critical level of the body mass index. Weight deficiency can occur in both women and men, as well as in children, including newborns. In particularly serious cases, being underweight can be fatal.

Medical Diagnostic Center "Energo" is a clinic that provides treatment services for many diseases, including endocrine and psychological ones. To achieve the best result, the treatment regimen is always drawn up individually, taking into account the characteristics of the patient’s body.

Causes of underweight

The causes of underweight are very diverse. The most common of them are:

  • diseases of the gastrointestinal tract that prevent the normal breakdown of food and the consumption of sufficient amounts of nutrients;
  • diseases of the endocrine system that cause hormonal imbalances: hyperfunction of the thyroid gland, the onset of diabetes mellitus, adrenal insufficiency, including as a result of taking hormonal medications without medical supervision;
  • lifestyle: insufficient or unbalanced diet with low amounts of fats and carbohydrates, stress, lack of sleep, smoking, excessive physical activity. In this case, body weight deficiency is observed more often in women and can be caused, among other things, by psychological reasons - the peculiar ideas of modern culture about a beautiful body, leading to the development of neuroses and anorexia;
  • In children, underweight can be observed at an early age due to underfeeding (lack of milk from the mother or when feeding with incorrectly selected formulas). In some cases, lack of weight can be observed already at the fetal stage and is caused by an improperly proceeding pregnancy - poor nutrition of the mother, bad habits, etc.

What are the dangers of being underweight: complications

Lack of weight- a disease with a large number of serious consequences, including:

  • loss of not only fat, but also muscle tissue, resulting in developing muscle weakness;
  • decreased immunity and general resistance of the body, including psychological: frequent illnesses, long-term inflammatory processes, nervous breakdowns and depression, fatigue, decreased performance and mental activity;
  • damage to various body systems, cardiovascular, nervous, sexual: lack of nutrition can cause the development of chronic diseases. In men, underweight can lead to a decrease in sperm production and further to complete infertility; in women, interruptions in the menstrual cycle are observed, up to the complete cessation of menstruation;
  • critical underweight can cause death due to extreme exhaustion;
  • In children, lack of weight is dangerous both in early childhood (including at the fetal stage) and in adolescence: it can also cause various kinds of disorders, including developmental delays.

Underweight according to BMI: symptoms

Modern scientists distinguish several types of underweight (especially when determining this disease in children). Thus, body weight deficiency of the 1st degree, calculated as a percentage, implies a deviation from the norm by 10-15%, the second - by 15-30%, the third - by more than 30%.

In adults, underweight is diagnosed when the body mass index (BMI) decreases to less than 18.5 kg/m2.

Symptoms of underweight are most often visual: there is a pronounced loss of fat on the chest, abdomen, limbs, and also on the face (in the later stages of the disease). Patients may experience weakness, including muscle weakness, fatigue, irritability, and a tendency to depression.

Initial inspection:
Since underweight may indicate serious problems in the body - and not only of a psychological nature - when the first signs of this disease appear, the first thing to do is make an appointment with specialists - an endocrinologist, gastroenterologist and nutritionist.

Initial appointment

An initial appointment with a specialist involves collecting an anamnesis (information about the patient’s eating habits, lifestyle, daily routine, concomitant diseases), as well as examining the patient with weighing and other measurements. A preliminary diagnosis of underweight in women and men is made based on the body mass index (BMI), which is calculated using the formula weight (kg) / height (m2). A normal value is considered to be between 18.5 and 25 kg/m2.

Diagnosis of the disease:
Most often, at the initial appointment, additional tests are prescribed to determine the hidden causes of weight loss (especially if there are no psychological or other external causes of the disease):

  • biochemical and hormonal blood tests: allows you to determine the presence of carbohydrate metabolism disorders, problems with the thyroid gland and adrenal glands;
  • urine analysis: examination of the level of protein (proteinuria), glucose, ketone bodies allows to detect diabetes mellitus;
  • stool analysis: performed if there is a suspicion of gastrointestinal diseases. In this case, a full examination by a gastroenterologist may be recommended.

Treatment plan:

Further treatment regimen If the examination and tests confirm a lack of body weight (in the appropriate percentage), the specialist will prescribe treatment aimed at eliminating the symptoms and causes of the disease. Most often, the basis of treatment for this disease is proper nutrition, which involves:
  • increasing the calorie content of consumed foods: introducing into the diet more fatty meat, meat broths, fermented milk products (sour cream, cream, milk), baked goods and foods with a large amount of carbohydrates;
  • maintaining a balance: increasing the calorie content of food does not exclude vegetables and fruits from the diet as the main source of vitamins;
  • possible reduction in the volume of portions with an increase in the number of meals (up to 4-5 times a day). In this case, the eating process should take place in a calm environment (quick snacks are excluded).

In some cases, especially in cases of weight loss in women caused by psychological factors, dietary changes may be supervised by a psychologist who helps patients cope with food-related phobias.

In addition to diet, replenishing weight loss involves physical activity, which aims to regain lost muscle mass, as well as adequate sleep and rest.

In some cases, treatment of this disease also involves taking medications, most often when a hormonal imbalance is detected. In this case, taking hormonal drugs should be carried out only under the supervision of a doctor.

Treatment result:

By following the doctor's recommendations on nutrition and physical activity, patients can compensate for weight loss and avoid serious complications. The timing of treatment largely depends on the stage of the disease, as well as on associated problems, including psychological ones.

Prevention:
Prevention of this disease involves:

  • sufficient, regular, balanced nutrition, especially during pregnancy;
  • moderate physical activity;
  • reducing stressful situations, giving up bad habits;
  • preventive checks of hormone levels, as well as preventive examinations for diseases of the gastrointestinal tract and endocrine system;
  • If you are underweight, you must consult a specialist and undergo an examination.

dcenergo.ru

Well-fed, healthy and... thin - what affects body weight when calculating?

One of the articles that I read at the time may be useful to someone.

There is no doubt that thinness can be an alarming sign - a symptom of problems in the body or even a serious illness. But what to do if the test chart does not show the presence of diseases, when doctors shrug their shoulders and, speaking about the causes of insufficient weight, blame genes for everything?

  • For a person who wants to gain weight, this sounds like a death sentence - after all, in case of illness, at least the treatment regimen is clear, while it is not possible to change the genetic predisposition.
  • Not only do psychological problems remain associated with the inability to gain weight, but there is also a risk of physical exhaustion - if even with proper nutrition the weight continues to go away, you will not be able to stay healthy for a long time.
  • What is the reason for this feature of your body? Why is it difficult to gain weight if even consuming high-calorie foods does not produce results? Let's look at everything in order:


The influence of temperament on body mass index

One of the interesting patterns that was noticed in ancient times is the dependence of human behavior on the constitution of the body. Are you familiar with the stereotypes in which fat people are always good-natured, and thin people are sullen?

As modern research shows, they did not arise out of nowhere. And the point here is not that thin people are in a bad mood due to the inability to gain weight, while fat people are in a good mood due to a full stomach. The root cause lies in the characteristics of the nervous system.

After all, it is the nervous system that significantly influences all processes in our body. Not only the ability to gain weight depends on its activity, but also our behavior, feelings, even the thought process - these are biochemical reactions, the features of which are related to the conductivity of nerve fibers and metabolic rate, which directly affects your ability to gain weight.

Modern ideas about body weight

Modern ideas about the characteristics of the nervous system of each of us are based on the predominance of the processes of excitation and inhibition - depending on this, 4 types of temperament are distinguished:

  • Choleric, in which the process of excitation prevails over the process of inhibition. Such a person will be impulsive and even irritable; the characteristics of his nervous system determine his behavior. As a result, a choleric person, in order to gain weight, always does not have enough resources to replenish wasted energy; he has poorly developed fatty tissue, but, as a rule, there is enough muscle tissue. Active, thin and wiry - a typical example of a choleric person.
  • Melancholic, in which the activity of the nervous system is weak, hence the eternal lack of strength, some slowness. A melancholic person is very dependent on external causes due to the fact that he lacks his own strength to resist them. Such a person will be more often predisposed to complexes and depression. It is quite difficult for him to gain weight, also because both the fat and muscle tissue of the body are not sufficiently developed.
  • Sanguine, in which a person is most balanced, as are his nervous processes. Therefore, the thinness of a sanguine person is rarely due to physiological characteristics - as a rule, it is difficult for him to gain weight due to some illness.
  • Phlegmatic, in which there is a tendency towards being overweight rather than being underweight. This person is not interested in the question of how to get fat. His nervous processes are fairly balanced, although inhibition slightly prevails over excitation. In behavior this is expressed by good nature, and in physiology - by slow metabolism, and, consequently, by the predominance of fat in the total body weight.

If it is impossible to change your temperament, then it is quite possible to adapt to it - control your diet, do physical exercises that suit your nervous system. Recommendations for a “fashionable” diet “based on the type of nervous system” can increasingly not only be read on the Internet, but also heard from doctors. It is quite possible to gain weight with such a diet with the right approach - after all, it is based precisely on the concept of temperament, as a feature of the development of nervous processes in the body.

Regulating your weight

Knowing your type of temperament, you can not only adjust your menu to gain weight faster, but also learn to control the characteristics of your behavior. After all, the consumption of quite tangible calories depends on how susceptible we are to stress, how sharply we react to external stimuli.

It is quite possible that you are unable to gain weight because you spend all your energy on emotions (nervous stress) - this is typical for choleric and melancholic people, the types most prone to thinness.

Appetite, which itself “is within the competence” of the nervous system, directly depends on the psycho-emotional component of our health. If choleric people are more or less fine with it - their problem is excessive energy consumption, rapid metabolism, then melancholic people quite often complain of a lack of appetite, the need to “stuff” food into themselves, which leads to both emotional problems and physical – even greater weight loss.

Burning calories

One of the reasons why you are unable to gain weight may be constant mental stress or fatigue.

Many representatives of intellectual professions are familiar with the feeling of loss of strength and even physical exhaustion at the end of the working day. Moreover, it has been proven that fatigue from mental work can exceed that from physical work. This fact means that the body's cells used all the energy they stored in the form of glycogen, which means they consumed more calories than they entered the body. Next, the process of converting fats into carbohydrates begins, which of course affects changes in body weight.

  • Mental fatigue must be taken into account because... intellectual tension is a negative factor in the energy balance; it requires the expenditure of calories and their replenishment.
  • Secondly, fatigue from mental work is quite high and can interfere with the physical activity necessary to correct weight.
  • With mental overstrain, willpower and performance in all areas decrease - this is explained by very real processes at the level of the nervous system and biochemistry of our body.
  • Therefore, if you no longer know how to get better, pay attention to the nature of your work - perhaps your body simply does not have the strength to recover, and calorie consumption will be much higher taking into account mental activity.


WHAT IS YOUR LIFESTYLE?

If you have significantly increased your diet, but continue to smoke, cannot deny yourself energy drinks and lead a sedentary lifestyle, then it is not surprising that you are unable to increase body weight. The result will only come if you practice an integrated approach and influence all areas of the body’s life.

Even enhanced nutrition should be correct in terms of quality - by overeating on McDonald's hamburgers, you are more likely to cause problems with the stomach, heart and blood vessels, or the endocrine system, but you may not be able to gain weight if such a diet does not suit your type of metabolism.

What else should you pay attention to?

  • Exposure to stress.

As we have already found out, emotions can burn quite a lot of calories, moreover, they affect appetite, digestion, the balance of excitation and inhibition processes, which contributes to rapid fatigue. Stress can include not only emotional factors, but also any overstrain of the body - illness, sudden change in diet or its composition, change in the level of physical activity, environmental conditions.

In all these cases, the body will need time and effort to recover in order to recover, not to mention the possibility of serious disruption of the functioning of organ systems, which is not always possible to establish. This is why attempts to gain weight quickly and haphazardly fail.

  • Nutritional features.

Only regular nutrition that meets your specific needs will have a positive effect on your body weight. Efforts to gain weight suddenly only drive the body into a stressful state, and an incorrect ratio of proteins, fats and carbohydrates can even harm the metabolism.

  • Bad habits.

Excess caffeine, nicotine, excessive alcohol consumption - all this negatively affects the condition of the body. Before asking how to gain weight, stop smoking - nicotine speeds up your metabolism and reduces your appetite.

The same can be said about caffeine, which, in addition, has the ability to “burn fat,” which is actively promoted by manufacturers of all kinds of diet pills and creams.


ARE YOU GETTING ENOUGH SLEEP?

Quite a lot, in our age of fighting obesity, is said about the dangers of lack of sleep for those who want to lose weight.

However, in reality it turns out that sleep problems are, first of all, stress that disrupts the normal functioning of the nervous system, preventing the body from restoring the energy spent during the day. This means that it is equally harmful to those who want to both gain weight and lose weight. What is important to consider when you go to bed?

  • Amount of sleep.

One of the important factors that influence your ability to gain weight is getting enough sleep. At this time, the body accumulates nutrients, forms new cells in organ tissue, and the processes of breakdown of nutrients slow down.

We create the necessary conditions

The more you sleep, the better conditions you create for your body to gain those much-needed pounds.

  • But how long a healthy sleep should last is an individual question; for some, 6 hours is enough, while others don’t get enough sleep even after 10. The notorious metabolism and organization of the nervous system are what influence your specific needs. Also keep in mind that the amount of sleep needed changes throughout life (a baby, for example, needs more sleep than an adult), depending on the degree of fatigue.
  • In addition, if you had enough sleep, but after waking up you do not feel a sense of vigor, first of all you need to pay attention to your biological clock - your sleep time should coincide with it. At a minimum, you should go to bed before 11 pm and get up before 9 am.
  • And remember that “lack of sleep” is one of the main maintaining factors of stress. Lack of sleep also increases the concentration of the hormone ghrelin.
    This is a recently discovered peptide hormone that is produced in the arcuate nucleus of the brain - the hypothalamus. Ghrelin plays an important role in obesity and anorexia, having a significant effect on appetite. It is very difficult to gain weight without a normal appetite.
  • Sleep quality.

Do you sleep soundly, are there any irritating factors? If you feel groggy in the morning, and during the day you struggle with the desire to fall asleep again, one of the reasons for this may be poor quality of sleep. Uncomfortable position, light, extraneous sounds - all this interferes with healthy sleep. Irritable people may need to calm down before going to bed. In addition, one of the reasons for poor sleep may be an internal disease.

How to gain body weight specifically for you?

The proportionality of weight and height also plays an important role. In order for a tall person to gain weight, all other things being equal, his diet must be more nutritious. This is explained by the fact that body structure is a factor influencing basal metabolism. The taller a person is, the larger the surface area of ​​the body must maintain normal temperature due to the increased calorie intake.

Gender of a person - men have a higher calorie intake per day than women due to greater muscle mass, the maintenance of which requires more calories. But in order to gain weight, and not just maintain body weight, the calorie content of the diet must be increased.

The basal metabolism in adults decreases by 7-10% every 10 years, which is associated with a slowdown in the functioning of mitochondria in cells and a decrease in the activity of the thyroid gland.

  • With age, the time for “burning” calories also increases and the required daily calorie intake decreases; the question arises less and less - how to gain weight? The thyroid gland works most actively before the age of 30, hence the “youth” problem of thinness, which is usually characteristic of people aged 16-35 years.
  • If your goal is to gain weight, then you need to take into account all the reasons for your specific situation - psychological portrait, lifestyle, physiological parameters.
  • Don't forget about medically proven facts - stress, bad habits, lack of sleep and excess physical activity. They haven't helped anyone get better yet. If you are serious about solving the problem of thinness, you should change your attitude towards all of the above factors.

Calculating ideal weight is always problematic, since several methods for determining it are currently approved. All of them, according to the developers, are correct, but women strive for the ideal, so methods are used that give an average value. To calculate it, you can use it online weight calculator, which is presented below.

see

Physical activity

Basal metabolism minimum/absence of physical. loads 3 times a week 5 times a week 5 times a week (intensively) Every day Every day intensively or twice a day Daily physical. load + physical Job

Result in

Without changing weight:

Weight loss:

Fast Weight Loss:

According to anthropologists, there are three types of human figure, which characterize the appearance and possible weight - asthenic, normosthenic, hypersthenic.

  • An asthenic person is tall and light in weight - these are standard people who eat a lot, but do not gain weight. The figure of an asthenic is angular, the bones “stick out”, which somewhat loses its attractiveness.
  • Normostenic – average height and standard weight. Their health is the best, since such people are not subject to weight gain, their figure is well-balanced and attractive.
  • Hypersthenic – height below average, and weight slightly above normal. The presented body has slight roundness, similar to that observed in men and women. If a person with a hypersthenic body loses a lot of weight, his appearance will not be attractive.

From the above provisions it follows that it is important for a person to first study his body, and only then resort to. Perhaps losing weight will not be necessary at all, because it is important to pay attention not to the ratio of height and weight, but to the type of figure.

Mistakes will lead to forced, debilitating diets, which women who strive for the ideal, but are unable to maintain low weight with their health characteristics, like to practice.

How to determine your body type

In accordance with the above data, it is necessary to determine your body type, which will be important for both men and women.

To determine, the following measurements are required:

  • Go to the mirror and pull your stomach in.
  • Next, you need to palpate the lower ribs and evaluate their position relative to each other. This is called calculating the intercostal angle - the upper point of connection of the ribs in the middle of the human body.
  • If the angle is less than 90 degrees, then the figure is anesthenic. If it is closer to a right angle, then it is normosthenic. When the angle is more than 90 degrees, we are talking about hypersthenics - they have an expanded bone location, so they look plump even with normal indicators.

It is important for women to achieve an ideal weight, but it is clarified that it is not possible to determine it exactly. For each figure and person, the norm is determined individually; in most cases, a person does not think about his condition, but looks specifically at his appearance.

About ideal weight

Calculating normal weight is not a completely accurate procedure. Regardless of the results obtained, people strive to be thinner, men are slimmer and more prominent.

The ideal weight for a person corresponds to the following factors:

  • the existing weight and amount of fat in the human body is safe and does not cause health problems;
  • the optimal indicator will not limit human movements;
  • a woman or a man is satisfied with their appearance;
  • there is no comparison with other people.

In this case, it doesn’t matter what a person’s indicators are, but it is recommended to calculate the ideal weight for your height. In this way, there is a certain relationship between appearance and health. It is recommended to calculate and track normal weight (stick to it as much as possible) so as not to risk your health. The presented values ​​are given to people to correct their diet and prevent the development of pathologies, mainly developing against the background of excess weight.

Expert opinion

Egorova Natalya Sergeevna
Dietitian, Nizhny Novgorod

Yes, ideal weight is a relative and purely individual concept. When calculating it, many factors are taken into account: body mass index (BMI), constitutional type, amount of fat in the body, metabolic characteristics, etc. And yes, hypersthenics have a normal body weight that is always higher than asthenics.

Back in Soviet times, the ideal weight formula was quite simple. 100 was subtracted from height, and the resulting number supposedly showed how many kilograms a person should weigh. Naturally, such calculations were inaccurate, brought little benefit and had practically nothing to do with reality. However, even today many people measure “normal” weight by body mass index. I don't approve of this approach.

Moreover, I do not recommend determining your “ideal weight” on your own or with the help of friends and family. After all, you yourself will not be able to calculate the exact figure. And you won’t give yourself recommendations for losing weight. So if you plan to lose weight, contact a nutritionist. This article does not indicate all the factors that a specialist takes into account when planning a weight loss program. In fact, there are many more of them. And be prepared for the fact that you may need to undergo a number of tests.

How to determine the presence of excess fat in the body

There are several ways to determine the presence of excess fat. Its presence in the body provokes the development of cholesterol plaques, atherosclerosis and joint pathologies due to excessive pressure. In most cases, the legs are affected, but you can also encounter more serious problems - osteochondrosis and spinal hernias.

Using scales

The standard and common formula for calculating ideal indicators is to calculate the amount of 110 from your height. Calculating indicators is easy if you have a scale at home. You should weigh yourself in the morning on an empty stomach and after going to the toilet.

Folds on the stomach

A large amount of fat in the body, which leads to obesity and deterioration of the body’s functioning, can be determined by the fold on the abdomen. For men, the approved norm is 1-2 cm, for women – 2-4 cm. All indicators above 5 cm indicate the presence of obesity. This method will not make it possible to calculate how many kilograms you need to lose to achieve an ideal figure, but it may indicate the presence of health problems.

Body mass index

There is a way to calculate the norm using body mass index. To do this, you need to use the formula: weight/height in meters2.

Here is the following definition:

  • if the body mass index is less than 18.5, then the person is deficient;
  • up to 24 is normal;
  • up to 29 – excess;
  • over 30 indicates obesity.

The resulting value must be compared with the indicators in the table.

Using a calculator

To simplify calculations, we offer an ideal weight calculator based on height and age.

Fat calculating scales

Body mass index indicators provide only mathematical values. It is noteworthy that the existing spread entails significant differences in the amount of fat in the human body and in appearance. You can simplify your work and use only scales equipped with the function of calculating the amount of fat in a person. To do this, a weak electrical impulse is passed through the body, which easily passes through water and muscles. Difficult passage through fat leads to the calculation of indicators.

How to determine real indicators

Often, men and women begin to lose weight at high levels, expecting to achieve significant results.

In order not to overestimate your capabilities, it is recommended to use the following formula to calculate your possible achievement:

  • 45 kg + 1 kg for each cm of height, which is over 150 cm + 0.5 kg for each year over 25 years, but not more than 7 kg.
  • Next you need to add 4-7 kg to the obtained value.
  • Add another 4-7 kg if he currently weighs 90 kg.
  • If a person currently weighs more than 100 kg, add a few more kilograms.

As an example, we can take a woman weighing 82 kg, height 165 cm and age 31 years. For her, normal indicators will be calculated as: 45+15+3+7 = 70 kg. The value can be reduced to 67 - the amount will be obtained if you add 4 kg.

It turns out that a woman should weigh from 67 to 70 kg. Otherwise, she will not be able to maintain the achieved weight (for example, if she loses weight up to 55 kg), and health problems will also arise.

Important! When losing weight or calculating indicators, it is recommended to pay attention not to your own ambitions, but to the need to improve your health.

Weight and health have a close relationship, which should be monitored throughout time. You need to weigh yourself constantly - every 2 days or once a week, while monitoring your diet. To maintain the achieved ideal shape, it will be enough to carry out weekly fasting days. They will help get rid of excess fluid in the body, which helps break down fat cells.

Calculate your ideal weight Almost everyone has tried at least once. There are many formulas that can be used to determine whether your body weight is normal. The simplest method for calculating normal body weight is considered to be: “height minus 100” for men and “height minus 110” for women.

However, this approach does not give a true picture of whether a given person is overweight.

It is clear that asthenic people will weigh less than normosthenics, and normosthenic people will weigh less than large-boned people. In addition, excess muscle mass in an athlete can be interpreted as obesity, or vice versa, the body weight of an asthenic teenage girl can be considered insufficient.

Ideal weight

Currently ideal weight(normal body weight) is determined using a number of indicators that take into account the characteristic features of the individual’s structure. This approach allows you to more accurately determine whether you have excess body weight, which, by the way, from a medical point of view, may not be obese at all.

Obesity levels

Although we are accustomed, following fashion, to hang the label “obesity” on everyone who does not look like anorexic catwalk beauties, for diagnosing this serious disease there are a number of medical indicators that are very different from our aesthetic ideas about beauty.

Endocrinologists distinguish 4 degrees of obesity. With 1 degree of obesity, excess body weight exceeds ideal, or normal - 10-29%, with 2 degrees of obesity - by 30-49%, with 3 degrees of obesity - by 50-99%, with 4 degrees of obesity - by 100% more.

To determine what degree of obesity a particular person suffers, it remains to find out what normal or ideal body weight is.

What should be the ideal weight (ideal body weight)

The most scientifically substantiated, proven in practice and simple to measure is such an indicator as body mass index (BMI). Body mass index allows you to determine the degree of excess or underweight.

Determination of body mass index (BMI)

From a medical point of view, body weight is considered normal in a fairly wide range, which depends on body structure, age, gender, race, etc. The ideal body weight will be, accordingly, body weight taking into account all these indicators.

Body mass index can be calculated using the formula:

Body weight in kilograms should be divided by height in meters squared, i.e.:

BMI = weight (kg) : (height (m)) 2

For example, a person’s weight = 85 kg, height = 164 cm. Therefore, the BMI in this case is equal to: BMI = 85: (1.64X1.64) = 31.6.

The body mass index indicator was proposed as a determinant of normal body weight by the Belgian sociologist and statistician Adolphe Ketele ( Adolphe Quetelet) back in 1869.

Body mass index is used to determine the degree of obesity and the risk of developing cardiovascular disease, diabetes and other complications associated with overweight and obesity.

Types of body weight BMI (kg/m2) Risk of comorbidities
Underweight <18,5 Low (increased risk of other diseases)
Normal body weight 18,5-24,9 Ordinary
Excess body weight 25,0-29,9 Elevated
Obesity I degree 30,0-34,9 High
Obesity II degree 35,0-39,9 Very tall
Obesity III degree 40 Extremely high

The table below shows the parameters at which body weight remains within the normal range from a medical point of view.

Normal weight(indicated in green in the table):

Yellow indicates overweight, red indicates obesity.

In addition, a number of other indices can be used to determine normal body weight:

  1. Broca's index is used for heights of 155-170 cm. Normal body weight is equal to (height [cm] - 100) - 10 (15%).
  2. Breitman index. Normal body weight is calculated using the formula - height [cm] 0.7 - 50 kg.
  3. Bornhardt index. Ideal body weight is calculated using the formula - height [cm] chest circumference [cm] / 240.
  4. Davenport index. A person's mass [g] is divided by his height [cm] squared. An increase above 3.0 indicates the presence of obesity. (obviously this is the same BMI, only divided by 10)
  5. Oder index. Normal body weight is equal to the distance from the crown to the symphysis (pubic joint of the pubic bones) [cm] 2 - 100.
  6. Noorden index. Normal weight equals height [cm] 420/1000.
  7. Tatonya index. Normal body weight = height-(100+(height-100)/20)

In clinical practice, the Broca's index is most often used to assess body weight.

In addition to height and weight indicators, the method for determining the thickness of the skin fold proposed by Korovin can be used. Using this method, the thickness of the skin fold in the epigastric region is determined (normally -1.1-1.5 cm). An increase in the thickness of the fold to 2 cm indicates the presence of obesity.

Abdominal obesity

Another measurement option that is proposed to determine the degree of obesity along with calculating the body mass index is measuring waist circumference, since it is believed that fat deposition of the visceral-abdominal type (on internal organs) is the most dangerous for health. The normal waist size for women is no more than 88 cm and for men no more than 106 cm.

Although the indicators here are, of course, more subjective, because waist size largely depends on a person’s height and build. Thus, women with a pear-shaped figure may have obesity in the hips and lower body, but the waist will remain thin, while at the same time, women with an apple figure (with thin legs, but an excess waist) will are recognized as suffering from abdominal obesity.

Body Volume Index

One of the relatively new methods for determining excess body weight is based on the use of three-dimensional scanning, with the help of which it is calculated body volume index(English) Body Volume Index, BVI). This method of measuring obesity was proposed in 2000 as an alternative body mass index, which does not provide accurate information about the risks of obesity for each individual patient. Currently, the method has undergone clinical trials in the USA and Europe as part of a two-year project Body Benchmark Study.