| Being aware of your present body fat percentage is | | | | caloric reference information, which is great when |
| important for maintaining a healthy lifestyle, but this is | | | | you're trying to find the calories you need reach your |
| only one factor in the equation of overall health. Your | | | | ideal weight. Some BMI scales display information on |
| doctor may have spoken to you about Body Mass | | | | a status graph, and look for models that are equipped |
| Index (BMI) or you may have read about it online or in | | | | with rubberized platforms to avoid slippage when |
| your favorite health magazine. BMI is the ratio of | | | | jumping out of the shower and onto the scale. |
| one's height and weight, and it is an excellent diagnostic | | | | So what is BMI and what might it mean for you? BMI |
| tool many physicians use in determining whether an | | | | is a number that is used by most doctors, and is a |
| individual may be over or under weight. The exact | | | | good reference for understanding general body |
| calculation is current body weight divided by the | | | | composition. Try not to think only in terms of weight, |
| square of one's present height. There are plenty of | | | | because weight includes both body fat and lean tissue |
| online charts available to determine BMI, but electronic | | | | in addition to bone mass and water weight. Since |
| BMI scales exist on the market today that allow for a | | | | being "overweight" in most people's minds really means |
| much more convenient and accurate BMI | | | | being over-fat, when you are thinking of weight loss |
| measurement. | | | | you should really be focused more on fat loss. This is |
| BMI provides a reliable indicator for most people of | | | | why it's important to purchase only one of the most |
| whether or not they may be carrying too much body | | | | accurate body fat scales equipped with features like |
| fat as a percentage of overall weight, and BMI is used | | | | BMI measurement, bone mass calculation, and water |
| to screen for weight categories that may lead to | | | | weight percentage estimation. |
| health problems. Knowing your BMI along with your | | | | Here are some additional considerations when |
| actual body fat percentage is an excellent way to | | | | contemplating what Body Mass Index really means: |
| determine if you should shed a few pounds or cut | | | | An athlete with a particularly low body fat percentage |
| back on foods that may be causing an increase | | | | may have a BMI of 25 and be technically |
| decrease in your present body fat percentage. Most | | | | "overweight". Realize that this person will have none |
| electronic BMI scales also have features for measuring | | | | of the health problems associated with carrying |
| body fat, water weight, and bone mass, so using an | | | | excess body fat. Quite the opposite, another person |
| electronic BMI scale is the most convenient method for | | | | may have a lower Body Mass Index but have very |
| tracking changes in your body composition over time. | | | | little muscle and lean tissue. This person may appear |
| There are some added features to look for when | | | | fit or not overweight but in reality may be carrying a |
| shopping for a specific electronic BMI scale. A built-in | | | | great deal of body fat and associated health risks. |
| athletic mode is great for those individuals who are | | | | These individuals would benefit more from an exercise |
| generally fit or muscular and wish to avoid a reading | | | | regimen that encourages gaining muscle rather than |
| that may be skewed because of their present body | | | | cutting down on body fat. |
| composition. Some electronic BMI scales provide | | | | |