Healthy Weight Loss Tools

Your Body Mass Index (BMI):

Researchers, who study the effects of being over weight in relation to healthy weight loss, often refer to a person's Body Mass Index (BMI). Pick up just about any magazine with articles on healthy weight loss and you're sure to see some reference to it. The BMI is a common way to determine whether your weight has put you in high risk health category. According to the National Institutes of Health your BMI score means the following:

• Under 18.5 you are underweight
• 18.5 to 24.9 you are a healthy weight
• 25 to 29.9 you are overweight
• 30 to 39.9 you are obese
• 40 and over you are extremely obese
  

To determine your BMI simply use this calculator tool and compare your score to the above meanings to help-lose-weight!

Your Body Fat Percentage:

Your percentage body fat is a more precise measure of obesity than your BMI score. For most people the BMI will be all they need to determine where they are and where need to be. However a lean, heavily muscled person will likely have a BMI score that rates them as being unhealthy, when in fact they actually are healthy. This is mainly because tissue, bone and muscles weigh significantly more than fat. A healthy male should not exceed 15% body fat and a healthy women should not exceed 22% body fat. Use the calculator abovr to determine your percentage body fat.

Your Ideal Weight:

Your ideal weight score shows you what weight range is considered healthy for height. This is the same measure of your health that a doctor would use if he were to consult you on your healthy weight. You can calculate your ideal weight score above.