how to calculate bmi for men - #41505
I am really confused about how to calculate bmi for men. My brother just got back from a health check, and the doctor told him his BMI is a bit high, which freaked him out. He’s always been a bit bigger but never thought it was a big deal ya know? Anyway, I looked online for info on how to calculate bmi for men, but there seems to be sooo many formulas and methods. He’s about 6 feet tall and weighs around 220 pounds, I think, but I can't seem to get the math right. I read something about the formula being weight in kilograms over height in meters squared, or maybe it’s the other way around? Honestly, math is not my strong suit, and I keep mixing up my pounds and kilos. Like, do I need to divide his weight by 2.2 or something to get it in kilos? And then the height, I have no clue how to change feet to meters! Could someone explain the whole thing in a simple way? Also, once I figure out how to calculate bmi for men, how worried should we be about the number that comes out? Should he be aiming for a specific range? Just kinda feeling overwhelmed with it all, any help would be appreciated!
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Doctors' responses
To calculate the Body Mass Index (BMI) for your brother, let’s break it down into steps, aiming to keep it as straightforward as possible. The formula indeed involves taking the weight in kilograms and dividing it by the height in meters squared. The BMI formula is:
[ BMI = \frac{\text{weight in kg}}{\text{(height in meters)}^2} ]
Let’s convert his weight and height into the metric units needed for the calculation. Starting with his weight: you convert pounds to kilograms. To do this, divide the weight in pounds by 2.2. So for 220 lbs, it would look like this:
[ \text{Weight in kg} = \frac{220}{2.2} \approx 100 \text{ kg} ]
Now, for his height: you need to convert feet and inches to meters. There are 0.3048 meters in a foot. For someone who is 6 feet tall:
[ \text{Height in meters} = 6 \times 0.3048 \approx 1.83 \text{ meters} ]
Next, square the height in meters:
[ \text{(Height in meters)}^2 = 1.83 \times 1.83 \approx 3.35 ]
Finally, divide the weight in kg by the squared height in meters to find the BMI:
[ BMI \approx \frac{100}{3.35} \approx 29.85 ]
This BMI value suggests he might fall into the ‘overweight’ range according to the conventional BMI categories. Generally, a BMI of 18.5 to 24.9 is considered ‘normal’; 25 to 29.9 is deemed ‘overweight,’ above that, it’s classified as ‘obese.’
As for the concern level, BMI is a general indicator and doesn’t account for muscle mass, bone density or fat distribution, so it should not cause panic. However, it can signal to review lifestyle and dietary habits. Encouraging a balanced approach to meals, incorporating more fresh fruits, vegetables, whole grains and lean proteins, and regular physical activities can be beneficial. Also, consider discussing with a healthcare professional, or an Ayurvedic physician, they can offer personalized guidance considering his unique constitution and broader health context.

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