What is a body mass index (BMI)?

The Body Mass Index (BMI) calculator calculates your BMI and lets you know if your weight is optimal. When compared to your weight in pounds (or kilograms), the BMI gives you a much better idea about your actual weight. It is the measurement of choice for many physicians and researchers studying obesity. The BMI is calculated with a mathematical formula which takes into account not just a person's weight but also height. The BMI equals a person's weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared. (BMI=kg/m2). Calculating your BMI before and during pregnancy is especially important as extremes of BMI (too high or too low) may affect your fertility and increase pregnancy complications.

In May of 2009, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) issued new guidelines on weight gain during pregnancy. Pregnancy weight gain is healthy because the baby, the uterus, the placenta, the amniotic fluid need to grow. Your baby's growth and development depend on you gaining adequate weight. Not everyone gains exactly the same amount and how much weight gain you need depends on various factors, including your pre-pregnancy weight and body mass index (BMI). Your health and your baby's health also play a role. Work with your doctor to determine what's right for you.

Pre-Pregnancy Diet and Gestational Diabetes

Eating the right types of foods before becoming pregnant can decrease a woman's risk of developing gestational diabetes (GDM) during pregnancy. ... read more »

Body Mass Index (BMI) Calculator

When compared to your weight in pounds (or kilograms), the BMI gives you a much better idea about your actual weight. This Body Mass Index calculator calculates your BMI. ... read more »

PTSD Symptoms Increase Risk for Obesity in Women

Women who suffer symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorde (PTSD) are at higher risk for becoming obese, according to a new study published in the journal JAMA Psychiatry. This research was the first to show that the symptoms of PTSD can contribute to obesity. ... read more »

Age and BMI Help Determine Risk of Gestational Diabetes

In a huge study published in BJOG, researchers report that BMI and age during pregnancy may be a huge factor in determining the risk of gestational diabetes. Women of south Asian and African-American ethnicity were particularly at risk. ... read more »

Can Obesity Prevent Ovulation?

The presence of adipose or fat tissue in obese women leads to a decrease of sex hormone binding globulin, and an increase in androgens (male hormones). ... read more »

First Trimester Umbilical Cord Cysts

Researchers from Tufts Medical Center in Cambridge, Massachusetts recently completed a study attempting to relate umbilical cord cysts found via sonography in the first months of pregnancy to specific pregnancy outcomes. ... read more »

Strive for 27 When Losing After-Baby Weight

The number 27 represents a healthy waist measurement for adult women, according to Dr. James Cerhan, an epidemiologist and lead author of the Mayo study. ... read more »

Losing The Baby Weight

No matter how much weight is gained or how healthy the woman has been eating, there will be at least a few pounds left over after the baby is born. ... read more »

Infant BMI Predicts Childhood Obesity

A recent study identifies ways to assess BMI during infancy, when interventions may be more effective. ... read more »

BMI, High Blood Pressure and Low Education Levels

A study published in BMC Public Health reveals a connection between education levels and increased blood pressure during pregnancy. However, when the results were filtered based on BMI, the correlation diminished. ... read more »

Effects of Adiposity-Related Inflammation on Pregnancy

A study was completed of 240 pregnant women was with body mass index (BMI) measurements ranging from less than 25 to more than 30 in an attempt to reveal the effects of adipose-related inflammation on pregnancy. ... read more »

BMI Changes During Pregnancy: Normal to Obese

Research studies have proven obesity is a major concern during pregnancy. Pregnancy complications associated with pre-pregnancy obesity may include increased risk of C-section and excessive fetal weight gain. ... read more »