BioTrainer Tools
Taking the Mystery out of Calories
What is a calorie? A calorie is a measure of energy, the capacity to do work. Science defines the calorie as the amount of energy required to raise the temperature of 1 gram of water by 1 degree Celsius.
In the laboratory, the calories in a food are determined by measuring the amount in 1,000-calorie units called kilocalories. But in everyday language this term has been shortened to just "calorie" when the amount of energy in food is described. Thus, a 165-calorie bagel is really 165 kilocalories.
Body Mass Index (BMI)
Body Mass Index (BMI) can be used to indicate if you are overweight, obese, underweight, or normal. It will, however, overestimate fatness in people who are muscular or atheletic. Because of these problems, this body mass index calculator shows extra statistics to help you be informed and judge your own body compared to others of the same height and age.
Women tend to believe they look their best at values between 20 to 22 and men are usually satisfied with a BMI of 23 to 25. If your BMI is between 17 to 22, your life expectancy is longer than average. You don't need to lose weight.
If your BMI is between 23 and 25, you are not considered overweight by most people. But if your BMI is 26 or more, that's not good. But you knew that already.
Most of all, Relax! It’s not healthy to be anxious over a less-than-perfect body image. This calculator is just a guide. If this description of your body doesn’t seem right to you, don’t worry about it! Trust your own instincts.