How to lose weight easily at home? Everyone wants to know "the secret" of burning fat! Well, the truth is, a healthy weight loss is all about making changes in your lifestyle. With so many fad diets such as the "Ketogenic diet" and "Two meals a day diet", distorting the idea of losing weight in a sustainable manner people's urge of working hard towards weight loss is lost. Right from what you eat to how you burn what you eat, losing weight and keeping it away for a long time requires a lot of effort. Once you have decided that you want to lose your weight for good, it takes a smart plan that suits your body needs and right exercises to keep the weight off. The first and most important step involves checking your BMI aka Body Mass Index, which is derived from the weight and height of a person. BMI is defined as the measurement of body fat based on body weight and body height. High and Low Levels of BMI Increase Risk of Death.

Why Is BMI Calculation Important for Weightloss?

BMI doesn't just doesn't determine your body weight but also acts as an initial step to figuring your general health as in, the diseases your body could be more prone to because of your weight. Based on the ratio of your height and weight an increased BMI indicates that you could be at an increased risk of developing certain diseases such as high blood pressure, heart diseases that are linked with obesity. Weight Loss Tip of the Week: How to Use Kadi Patta (Curry Leaves) to Lose Weight.

BMI Readings

BMI readings are simple, you need to keep in mind that if your BMI calculation results show below the number 18.5 mean you are underweight and that isn't good news either. If your BMI falls between 18.5 and 24.9, your body fat is considered normal BUT if your BMI results go beyond 30, you qualify as overweight. However, there have been arguments that this numeric system may not be the best way of labelling someone "overweight" because one is called obese or overweight if the body fat "presents a risk to health." But it is still considered the easiest ways to check body fat.  How to Lose Weight (Tip #4): What Happens to Your Body When You Skip Meals? Here’s How You Gain More Weight by Starving Yourself.

Ways To Calculate Your BMI

There are different ways to calculate your BMI. The basic math behind calculating your BMI is to divide your weight in kilograms by your height in metres squared and is universally expressed in units of kg/m² that resulting from mass in kilograms and height in metres. Weight Loss Home Remedies: Include These Spices In Your Diet To Melt Away Those Extra Kilos.

Here are different ways to calculate BMI:

  • You can ideally get a test done at an authentic health centre.

  • Online BMI calculators. For one click here.

  • Purchase a weighing machine that also calculates your BMI.

  • String test

A very easy and impressive way to calculate your body fat is the

"String Test". BBC popularised the "string test" to measure your BMI by using a simple piece of string. All you have to use a piece of string to measure your height and then fold the same string into half and check if it wraps around your waist easily. You mustn't hold your breath or suck your tummy in while checking your waist. You need to wrap the halved length of string halfway between your hip bone and your lowest rib. If your waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) is more than 0.5 you may be at risk of health issues. Obesity: Opting for Weight Loss Surgery? Expert Speaks about Diet, Exercise and Health Risks.

String Test for Calculating Your BMI [Watch Video]

Apart from calculating the amount of body fat you have in your body, did you know that the location, your body fat is present the most also makes the difference? It is said that the location of your body fat is is a better indicator of disease risk than the amount. For example, visceral fat, the type of body stored within the abdominal cavity is more dangerous to your health than probably fat present in your arm area. Abdominal adiposity which is the fat collected around the waist and chest may be more dangerous than the fat that accumulates around the hips and thighs.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 31, 2019 01:54 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).