Health Calculators

Target Heart Rate Calculator

You've decided to get in shape. You've checked things out with your doctor and gotten his or her OK. But how can someone monitor the intensity of their exercise while they're working out? That's where your target heart rate comes in.

Your target heart rate is a range at which your body is getting enough of a workout to get stronger, but without overdoing it. For most healthy adults, the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI) recommends a target heart rate between 50 and 75 percent of your maximum heart rate. The rate changes depending on how old you are.

Waist To Hip Ratio Calculator

When it comes to body fat, experts say it's not just how much fat you have. Where you have it, is also important. One measure you can use is the waist-to-hip ratio. According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK):

women with waist-to-hip ratios of more than 0.8 are at increased health risk because of their fat distribution
men with waist-to-hip ratios of more than 1.0 are at increased health risk because of their fat distribution

Body Mass Index (BMI) Calculator

BMI is a term that isn't completely familiar to everyone. It is short for Body Mass Index. It approaches a standard, and is the common choice for physicians and for research concerning obesity. With a mathematical formula, BMI uses a person's height and weight for the calculation. Your Body Mass Index is equal to your weight in kilograms divided by your height in meters squared. It is expressed as BMI=kg/m2. In the table below, the risks for disease associated with being over weight or obese are listed based on BMI and waist size for women and men. For your convenience, use the calculator below the chart for your BMI.

Risk of Associated Disease According to BMI and Waist Size
BMI		Waist less than or equal to 40 in. (men) or 35 in. (women)	Waist greater than 40 in. (men) or 35 in. (women)
18.5 or less	Underweight	--	N/A
18.5 - 24.9	Normal	--	N/A
25.0 - 29.9	Overweight	Increased	High
30.0 - 34.9	Obese	High	Very High
35.0 - 39.9	Obese	Very High	Very High
40 or greater	Extremely Obese	Extremely High	Extremely High