Body Mass Index -- or BMI -- can be used to indicate whether or not you're overweight and by how much.

April Richard believes that knowing and understanding our body mass index can be an indispensable tool for not only looking good, but for being healthy. "We should all know our BMI to be healthy. Not to be skinny but to be healthy.

Registered nurse Lauren Wilford explains that your BMI is based on a formula that takes into account your height and weight. You are then given a number value that is a measure of body fat based on your body. If your BMI is 25 you are considered overweight and if it is 30 or greater you are considered obese. "If your body fat is within a normal range then you have less risk of heart disease, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, diabetes, all those different health risks."

Lauren says that if you're concerned about your weight talk to your doctor. Doctor's can evaluate your BMI, waist measurement, and others risk factors for heart disease. "It is very important to know your BMI and if you are in a high risk group, even losing a little bit of weight can decrease your risks for all sorts of health problems."

Lauren also says that BMI is a reliable indicator of total body fat but it does have some limitations. "Weight lifters, muscle mass weighs a lot more than fat. So they can have a high BMI and actually be healthier so they have to take into consideration the amount of muscle."

You can get a BMI chart from your doctor's office or from the Internet.

Normal range for your BMI is between 18.5 and 24.9. Men are usually satisfied with a BMI of 23 to 25 and women tend to believe they look their best at values between 20 to 22.