Healthy Hint #46

Body mass index or BMI is an estimate of body fat based on your weight and height.
A BMI range of 18.5 to 24.9 for adults is considered normal. People who are overweight (BMI of 25 to 29.9) have too much body weight for their height. People who are obese (BMI of 30 or above) almost always have a large amount of body fat for their height.
The higher the BMI, the greater your risk for heart disease, high blood pressure,
Type 2 diabetes, breathing problems and some cancers.

Although BMI can be used as a health measure for most men and women, it does have limits. It may overestimate body fat in athletes and others who have a lot of muscle. It may also underestimate body fat in older people and others who have lost muscle. To find out your BMI and see how you compare to your peers, go to ChooseMyPlate.gov.