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BMI Projects

Body Mass Index (BMI) determines the percentage of fat on a person's body. BMI is calculated by weight and height and is an important tool in determining whether a person has a healthy amount of fat for his or her body size. Having too much body fat signals that a person is overweight or obese, which can lead to hypertension, cholesterol problems, stroke, heart disease and more.

  1. Calculate Your BMI

    • The first and foremost BMI project is to calculate your BMI. This can be done by a nutritionist or dietitian or simply by using a free BMI calculator on the Internet. Credible organizations such as The National Heart Lung and Blood Institute offer a BMI calculator at nhlbisupport.com. You'll also find a BMI calculator through The Centers for Disease Control website at cdc.gov. These calculators ask you to input your weight and height and will automatically display your BMI. Some calculators also require your waist measurement. An average BMI ranges between 18.5 and 24.9.

    Weekly Exercise Goals

    • After you have calculated your BMI, another important project is to set up weekly exercise goals. Exercising regularly can help to reduce your BMI or keep it steady. The National Academies Institute of Medicine recommends 60 minutes of daily exercise to avoid gaining weight. However, for beginning exercisers, this may be too much to start with. Talk with your doctor about appropriate exercises for your level, or start with small activities such as using stairs instead of an elevator or taking a short walk. Whether you are just starting out or advanced, making a weekly exercise plan or goals is a project that will help to get you on track for an improved BMI.

    Eating Goals

    • If you are overweight or obese, changing your eating habits will likely help to lower your BMI. Simple projects such as setting eating goals or making a weekly meal plan will help to reduce your calorie intake and ensure that you are burning more calories than you consume. Exercise and nutrition go hand in hand when it comes to BMI. However, some medical conditions, such as menopause and thyroid problems, can make it more difficult to improve your BMI.

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