If we look at the body mass index method we again see an indication of a BMI range of 19 to 24.9. Any less and it indicates you are underweight while more than 25 indicates overweight.

Remember the BMI method has its limitations so is only to be treated as an indication not a hard and fast rule.

To calculate the BMI:

BMI = Weight in Kilos / (Height in meters x Height in meters)  or

BMI = 703 x { Weight in Pounds / (Height in inches x Height in inches) }

So a woman weighing 64 kilos at a height of 1.7m would have a BMI of 22

Using the BMI method, the range of healthy weight for men is a weight for height ratio which results in a BMI of more than 18.5 and less than 25. Less than 18.5 indicates you are underweight, greater than 25 indicates you are overweight. BMI results of 30 and above indicate obesity and an urgent need to do something about it.

How do you calculate your BMI? (It is easier in metric measurements):

BMI = Weight in Kilos / (Height in meters x Height in meters)  or

in the old pounds and ounces way of looking at it we have to change the calculation a little to:

BMI = 703 x { Weight in Pounds / (Height in inches x Height in inches) }

So for example a man of 85 kilos (187lbs) at a height of 1.8m (71 inches) would have a BMI of 85/(1.8 x 1.8) = 85/3.24 = 26.2 which indicates him to be a little overweight.

We can compare that to the old style height and weight charts in pounds and see that result is pretty much in accordance with the height and weight indicated for a large framed man.

While BMI serves as a guide it is important to treat it as an indicator only, it does not allow for different body types, shapes or muscle mass but is nonetheless a useful guide.

Looking for a Healthy Weight Chart? There are several! Opinion differs as to how we should look at the question of healthy weight for height and body frame type and even body type. Muscle weighs a lot for instance so should particularly muscular people have a different scale to the rest of us?

There are also arguments as to the suitability of tables built up over many years as our nutritional intake improved and diets changed from decade to decade. Take tables and charts as a guide, there will always be exceptions!

A typical healthy weight chart might look something like these for adults:

Making things a little more sophisticated leads to bmi charts like: