What is BMI and How You Can Lower It?

BMI or Body Mass Index is the measure of the body fat of a person. It is calculated by dividing the height of the person by the square of the weight. There are various BMI health categories that show the level of fat you have in your body and the level of risk you are at when it comes to developing conditions like Type 2 Diabetes. Therefore, it is really important to calculate your BMI with the help of a BMI Calculator

According to the Center For Disease Control and Prevention, there are various categories of BMI which state if you are underweight, have a healthy weight, overweight or obese. In order to live a healthy lifestyle you should fall in the healthy weight category. Being in other categories increases your chances of developing various health conditions. 

BMI Categories

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there are various categories of BMI a person can all into and these are. 

BMI Less Than 18.5- If you are in this range you are underweight. 

BMI From 18.5 to 24.0 – if you are in this range you are in the healthy weight range

BMI From 25.0 to 29.9 – If you are in this range then you are overweight 

BMI equal to or higher than 30 – If you are in this range then you are obese. 

How to Lower Your BMI 

Having a high BMI can put you at risk of a lot of health conditions such as heart conditions, high blood pressure, and Type 2 Diabetes. Therefore, it is really important to know your BMI and being more healthy. Given below are some ways in which you can lower your BMI. 

1. Be in a calorie deficit

If you fall in the higer range of BMI then you need to shed some weight and you can do this by being in a calorie deficit. In simple terms, eating less in a day than what you burn. This will help your body to run out of glycogen stores and use fat for energy which will result in weight loss. 

2.More Fiber

If you want to shed some weight then look no further than foods that are high in fibre. Fruits and Vegetables offer this quality. They are abundant in vitamins and minerals and contain good amounts of fibre which makes you feel full and reduces your hunger. 

3. Avoid processed foods

If you are trying to be in the healthy BMI range then make sure to avoid processed foods. These are really high in calories and offer no nutritional value. They also contain an excessive amount of sugar, salt, and unwanted chemicals which are not good for the body by any means. 

4. Say yes to more protein

Protein is much lower in calories than carbs and keeps you full for longer. Your body also uses more calories to metabolize protein as compared to other macronutrients. Adding protein to your breakfast can be really beneficial if you are trying to lose weight.