Nutrition

What does your BMI mean?

Body Mass Index (BMI) is a measure used to find out if your weight is healthy for your height. The BMI tool puts your weight and height into an equation and calculates your BMI.

• If your BMI is over 25 you are overweight.

• If your BMI is over 30, you are obese.

A BMI over 25 puts you at risk for diseases like diabetes and heart disease. You may look good on the outside, but you are not healthy on the inside. If you are overweight you have too much fat on your body and it can hurt your organs.

People who are overweight are:

• Five times more likely to have diabetes.

• Two times more likely to have high blood pressure.

To find your BMI, just click on the links below for the BMI chart or the BMI calculator:

• http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/guidelines/obesity/bmi_tbl.htm
  BMI Chart
• BMI Calculator

You're not alone

Sixty-five percent of Americans are overweight or obese. We live in a society where high fat, high calorie food is readily available. Also, our daily activity level has decreased over the years. These changes are the reason that more and more Americans are overweight or obese.

Make the change

The only way to lower your BMI and your risk of disease is to lose weight. The links below will provide you with nutrition information to help you lose weight. For more detailed information, see additional resources.

• http://www.deliciousdecisions.org/ee/index.html

• http://www.niddk.nih.gov/health/nutrit/nutrit.htm

• http://www.diabetes.org/nutrition-and-recipes/nutrition/overview.jsp

• http://www.nutritionexplorations.org/educators/pyramid-servings.asp