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BMI stands for Body Mass Index or, simply, the height to weight ratio of a person. It indicates whether you are overweight for your height.
To calculate your BMI:
1. Measure your height in metres and multiply the figure by itself, giving your height squared
2. Measure your weight in kilograms
3. Divide weight by height squared
For example, a woman measuring 1.65m and weighing 63kg:
1.65 x 1.65 = 2.72
63 / 2.72 = BMI 23.2
According to the World Health Organisation, if your BMI is between 18.5 and 24.9, you are a healthy weight. A BMI above 24.9 indicates that you are overweight, below 18.5 you are underweight.
The World Cancer Research Fund says that, in order to minimise the risk of cancer, "everyone must aim to be as thin as possible without becoming underweight".
The BMI will be inaccurate for people over the age of 60 and for bodybuilders.
If we stick with the minimum BMI of 18 required by the organisers of Madrid Fashion Week, we arrive at the following target weights:
height |
weight @ BMI = 18 |
1.57 m |
44.4 kg |
1.60 m |
46.1 kg |
1.65 m |
49.0 kg |
1.70 m |
52.0 kg |
1.75 m |
55.1 kg |
1.80 m |
58.3 kg |