Body Health Calculator app for iPhone and iPad

The Body Health Calculator implements three separate health tools and indicators:

• BMI : Body Mass Index
• BMR : Basal Metabolic Rate, the amount of calories your body burns at different activity levels
• Body Fat : The body fat percentage tells you have much fat your body contains.

Body Mass Index

Body Mass Index (BMI) is an internationally used measure of obesity. It was originally called the Quetelet Index  after its inventor Adolphe Quetelet (1796-1874), a Belgian Statistician. 

The BMI is frequently used to assess how much a persons body weight departs from what is normal or desirable for a person of his or her height. To calculate the BMI only two measurements are required: height and weight. The ranges used are valid only as statistical categories when applied to adults, and do not predict health.

Basal Metabolic Rate

The Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR) is the amount of daily energy expended by a person at rest in a neutrally temperate environment in the post-absorptive state, i.e. after twelve hours of fasting.

Several estimation formulas exist, where the mostly used was the Harris-Benedict equation created 1919. In 1990 Mifflin et al introduced a new equation with better prediction. Both of these equations are implemented in this app.

To calculate the daily calorie needs, the BMR value has to be multiplied by a factor 1.2 to 1.9 depending on the persons activity level.

Each persons metabolism is unique due to his or her unique physical makeup and physical behavior.

Body Fat Calculator

The body fat percentage tells you have much fat your body contains. Since fat regulates body temperature, cushions and insulates organs and tissues and also is the main form of the bodys energy storage, a certain amount of fat is essential to bodily functions.

It is important to note the differences between men and women when it comes to determining healthy body fat percentages. Mainly, women are healthier with higher body fat percentages than men. This is because women require higher fat levels for safe pregnancy. As a result, different body fat percentages will be provided with the same health assessment for both genders.

This app implements a simple tape measurement method using a formula developed by the US Navy. It will not calculate your exact body fat percentage. The most accurate way is underwater weighing, but this method should give you a consistent measurement you can use as a guideline so you can determine if youre losing body fat and/or muscle. Several other more intricate measurement methods do however exist. The best time to use the app to calculate you body fat percentage, is in the morning. Your body weight and waist measurements are the most accurate just after you wake up from 7-8 hours of sleep.