Prof. George Fernandez of Universityof Nevada, Reno says that there is a simpler way for people to calculate their Body Mass Index (BMI).  He suggests the use of a number called Maximum Weight Limit or MWL, a number that we know e can’nt go over.

He says that for both sexes, there is a baseline weight and height.  For men, the baselines are 5′ 9″ tall and maximum weight of 175lbs.  This means that a 5 feet 9 inches man shall not weight more than 175lbs. The corresponding numbers for women are 5 feet and 125 lbs.  These are easy to remember numbers.  These MWLs corresponds closely to BMI of 25.5 for men and 24.5 for women – BMI of 18.5 to 25 is considered healthy BMI.\.

Treating this as a base line, a person shorter or taller can calculate BMI by simply adding or substracting  5 lbs for men and 4.5 lbs for women for every one inch change in height.

So, if he is 5-feet, 11-inches tall, he is 2 inches taller than the baseline of 5 feet, 9 inches. He should add 5 pounds for each of those 2 inches, 10 pounds, to the baseline Maximum Weight Limit of 175. Thus, his Maximum Weight Limit is 185 (175 pounds plus 10 pounds).  Women add or subtract 4.5 pounds for each inch they differ from the baseline height of 5-feet tall.

“Now people can calculate their own Maximum Weight Limit, based on the BMI index, but without any calculators or charts. And, all they have to remember is that one number, 185 pounds for example, which is easier for most people than retaining a weight range, such as 155 to 185 pounds,” said Fernandez.

“Anyone, anywhere can calculate their Maximum Weight Limit if they know their height and this simple formula. People can calculate this in their heads and remember this,” he said.
Fernandez will present his Maximum Weight Limit calculation at the Nevada Public Health Association Conference at the University of Nevada.