BMI stands for “Body Mass Index.”  It is a calculation based solely on a person’s weight in relation to their height.  Many people have a concern they will gain weight after starting a smoking cessation program.  It has been shown this is not a change in a person’s metabolic rate, whether while smoking or during smoking cessation.  However, it has been shown there is an increased caloric consumption during smoking cessation (increased eating).  A sedentary lifestyle (couch potato) is a very big part of this phenomenon.  If this applies to you (you are not currently a professional athlete, weight lifter or body builder), then calculating your BMI is a starting point to assess your weight as a risk factor for chronic disease.  Obesity has been linked to several serious medical conditions, including:  heart disease and stroke; high blood pressure; diabetes; cancer; gallbladder disease and gallstones; osteoarthritis; gout; breathing problems such as sleep apnea (when a person stops breathing for a short time during sleep) and asthma.

Calculate your BMI and assess whether now is the time start an exercise regimen and rethink the way you eat.  The average person spends at least one hour a day smoking.  Now might be a good time to focus that free time to better your health in other areas outside smoking cessation.

Body mass index (BMI) is measure of body fat based on height and weight that applies to both adult men and women.

Enter your weight and height in the below figure.