BMI

The Body Mass Index figures recently caught my eye.  The calculation takes height and weight and characterizes an individual as underweight, normal weight, overweight or obese.

The US Department of Health and Human Services has published the following BMI categories:

Underweight = <18.5

Normal weight = 18.5 - 24.9

Overweight = 25 – 29.9

Obesity = BMI of 30 or greater

At 5’10” tall and 188 pounds, I am considered overweight with a BMI of 27.0.  To achieve the upper threshold of normal weight, I need to be 174 pounds to achieve a BMI of 25.0.  That sounds about right to me and I could stand to lose 15 pounds.

Another article I read for indicates that the BMI of 27.0 for a 40-49 year old male places me squarely in the 53^rd percentile of that group.  What that says is that most men 40-49 years of age could stand to lose 15 pounds.  In fact the normal range for men 40-49 years of age stops at the 36^th percentile. 

To lower my weight a recommended diet is available to provide 1600 calories.  My last snapshot had my caloric intake at 2500 calories.