Not everyone is an expert on the commonly used health terms that we hear and read about every day. Many of us truthfully have no idea what terms like BMI, lean body mass and respiratory rate mean at all.

By gaining at least a basic understanding of these terms, we can improve not only our general knowledge, but also our health. Swot up on everything from body fat percentage to patella and then use that knowledge to improve your own health through lifestyle choices and fitness training, as well as your understanding of it.

Body mass index, also called BMI, is  a way of measuring how healthy an average person is by comparing their age, height and weight. The system uses a range on a point system to see if an individual falls into a healthy weight category by contrasting the above details.

Generally, a person with a BMI of 18.5 to 25 is in the healthy zone. Those under and below are deemed underweight or overweight respectively.

However, BMI is a general guideline measurement only; weight lifters may appear overweight because of their extra muscle mass, while light-boned naturally slender people may seem underweight. This flaw comes about because BMI contrasts weight, which will be higher on athletic body types due to a higher muscle mass, with height. If you fall into this category, take it as a guideline only and instead look at more detailed physical reports that show body fat and lean body mass percentages.

If an average person has a high BMI at 26 or over, it may be time to take action and look at your health and fitness. Being a healthy weight means you are at a lower risk of heart disease, stroke and type 2 diabetes, particularly as you get older. Eating a healthy, balanced diet and participating in physical activity that gets you out of breath at least five times a week – like kungfu training – will help you reduce your BMI for your wellbeing and happiness.

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