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The body mass index (BMI) is a measure that uses your height and weight to work out if you are a healthy size. This helps gyms in Dubai customize a workout and diet plan for you.
The BMI formula itself is relatively straight forward and incredibly useful. It divides your weight in kilograms by your height in metres squared.
The resulting number, which is usually between about 15-40, is compared against the BMI chart. This shows whether you are underweight, a healthy weight, overweight or obese.
For those aged 2 to 18, the BMI calculation doesn’t just take into account their height and weight, age and gender also feature in the BMI formula here.
Gyms in Dubai will readily help you out to measure your current BMI and to reach your goal weight.
BMI ranges
A BMI of 18.5 to 24.9 is in the healthy range for most people. This will definitely be the case in individuals with a normal musculature, though those with greater muscle mass may see themselves in a healthy weight range at a higher number.
The ranges measure in at:
- below 18.5: underweight
- between 18.5 and 24.9: healthy weight
- between 25 and 29.9: overweight
- between 30 and 39.9: obese
- over 40: severely obese
Estimating your BMI
It’s easy enough to find a rough estimate of your BMI using the above formula. There are too many variables to take into account to be 100% accurate all the time, so actual amounts will vary according to person, but you can get a fairly decent measure of your weight level.
If you don’t want to run the equation yourself, a simple online BMI calculator will be able to put you in the right ballpark.
Click HERE to check out GymNation's BMI Calculator
How to use BMI
Knowing your BMI can be incredibly useful.
It is used by medics as a biometric marker with regards somebody’s overall health.
The safety of certain procedures often depends on somebody’s BMI being within a healthy range, whilst the likelihood of them developing chronic illnesses such as heart disease or diabetes can hinge on it not being too high.
It is also useful in judging your own health and fitness goals. If you work out that you have a BMI of 17, you know that you have to put weight on. Add a caloric surplus of around 3-500 calories per day and you should be able to put on around 3-4lbs per month until you get your BMI into the healthy range.
If you want to be muscular, but don’t know where you fit in, BMI can also help. If you have a regular frame, and come in at BMI 20, it’s likely that you have average musculature. You will want to move your BMI up in gradual increments as you run through hypertrophy (the process of building muscle)
Alternatively, if you find that your BMI is too high, say in the mid to top thirties, then you know that your most urgent priority will likely be to lose weight.
Maintain a caloric deficit of around 500 calories per day through eating less and exercising more. This way, you can expect to lose around 4lbs per month: keep this going until you measure up more healthily on the BMI chart. Ask your gym in Dubai about the best way you can achieve your goal weight effectively.
