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INFORMATION ON BODY COMPOSITION
BMI & IDEAL WEIGHT
Everybody is concerned about their weight. But what is the basis for determining your ideal weight?
The key is BMI.
BMI is short for Body Mass Index. This index uses the following simple formula to indicate the ratio
between weight and height of a person.
BMI = weight (kg) / height (m) / height (m)
The OMRON Body Composition Scale uses the Height information stored in your Personal Profile
Number to calculate your BMI.
The Ideal BMI is 22
Maintaining an ideal weight can help prevent obesity or weight loss and other diseases, and lead a longer
life. The ideal weight for a BMI of 22 is calculated as follows.
Ideal Weight (kg) = 22 × height (m) × height (m)
Example: For a person 1.55 m tall...
22 × 1.55 × 1.55 = 52.855 -> Approx 52.9 kg
However, this method of ideal weight calculation may not be applicable for professional athletes and
body builders, who have higher muscles ratio in their bodies.
Interpreting the BMI Result
The above-mentioned indices refer to the values for obesity judgment proposed by the WHO, the World Health Organization.
BODY FAT
Body fat serves a vital role in storing energy and protecting internal organs. We carry two types of fat in our
bodies: 1) essential fat which is stored in small amounts to protect the body and 2) stored fat which is
stocked for energy during physical activity. While too much body fat may be unhealthy, having too little fat
can be just as unhealthy. Also, the distribution of body fat in men and women is different, so the basis for
classifying the body fat percentage is different between the genders.
Interpreting the Body Fat Percentage Result
The table below is based on research by Gallagher et al., American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Vol. 72,
Sept. 2000, and classified into four levels by Omron Healthcare.
BMI
Classifications (by the WHO)
Less than 18.5
Underweight
18.5 or more and less than 25
Normal
25 or more and less than 30
Overweight
30 or more
Obese
Gender
Age
– (Low)
0 (Normal)
+ (High)
++ (Very High)
Female
20-39
< 21.0%
21.0 - 32.9%
33.0 - 38.9%
39.0%
40-59
< 23.0%
23.0 - 33.9%
34.0 - 39.9%
40.0%
60-80
< 24.0%
24.0 - 35.9%
36.0 - 41.9%
42.0%
Male
20-39
< 8.0%
8.0 - 19.9%
20.0 - 24.9%
25.0%
40-59
< 11.0%
11.0 - 21.9%
22.0 - 27.9%
28.0%
60-80
< 13.0%
13.0 - 24.9%
25.0 - 29.9%
30.0%
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HBF-202-AUW_A_M.fm Page 5 Monday, November 22, 2010 4:35 PM
