BMI = Body Mass Index is actually an easy calculation simply determined by the individual's height and weight.

The equation being: Weight (in KG's) / Height² (In Metres) = BMI

Examples:

Female - 58 divided by 1.65*1.65 therefore 58/2.72 = 21
Male - 85 divided by 1.80*1.80 therefore 85/3.24 = 26.2

Done this?

The result should read between 18.5 & 25 in order for you to be classed as 'healthy' in terms of BMI! Anyone with a figure below 18.5 would therefore be classified 'Underweight'. Above 25 and you are 'Overweight', and if above the count of 30 you are considered Obese!

So the aforementioned female example is healthy at 58kg and 1.65m tall (or at 5ft5in & 9st2lbs). However the male at 85kg/1.8m or 13st 6lbs/5ft11in is actually classified as 'unhealthy' at 1.2 points over the level.

Although still widely used in the health profession there are many who have their doubts over the value of BMI in sports. Athletes often have muscle bulk which means that weight is higher but body fat percentages are in fact low. This produces a high BMI factor. In this case the high scoring would not be considered to be a concern.

So is BMI just another figure to confuse or a valuable 'general' figure for everyday use for the average person on the street's analysis? Well this still covers a vast number of people out there who live normal lives, participate in sporting activities, eat normal family diets and in many cases like to keep tabs on their well being and maybe even their performance.

Used in conjunction with other information and data it is impossible that there would be a sudden dramatic change in BMI that would raise alarm bells, of course....however as another simple calculation entered at regular intervals on a training log your BMI can be part of the overall jigsaw puzzle charting ongoing progress in the pursuit of individual performance enhancement.