Determine Your Healthy Weight: A Guide to BMI and Ideal Body Mass

Every person has an ideal body weight in terms of health. According to the Center for Disease Control, Body Mass Index (BMI) is a means of determining your healthy weight. BMI uses a person's height and weight to measure his percentage of body fat. Adults age 20 and older wishing to achieve their healthiest weight should aim for a BMI of 18.5 to 24.9 percent.

Things You'll Need

• Tape Measure

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Instructions

• 1

  Use the tape measure to calculate your exact height in inches. Enlist the help of a second person to do this if necessary. Round your height to the nearest whole number.

• 2

  Access the Body Mass Index Table. Find your height in inches along the left column of the chart. Mark the location with one of the fingers of your left hand.

• 3

  Locate the heading "Normal" along the top of the chart. Mark the location of the first number within the normal range with one of the fingers of your right hand.

• 4

  Move the finger marking your height to the right. Simultaneously move the finger marking the "Normal" range down.

• 5

  Continue until the two fingers meet on a specific number. Write this number down as it represents your lowest healthy body weight.

• 6

  Use one finger to move to the right in the same row as your lowest body weight. Stop at the last unshaded number.

• 7

  Write this number down as it represents your highest healthy body weight. Review the two numbers you have written down; these represent your ideal weight range in pounds.