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2nd International Conference on Electrical, and Civil Engineering (ICEECE'2012) Singapore April 28-29, 2012 Based Automated Body Mass Index (BMI) Calculator with LCD Display

Burhan uddin Ismail, Syed Fahad Akbar Ali and Ali Asghar Ayaz

Abstract—The aim of the project was to design a A. Usage microcontroller based automated Body Mass Index (BMI) calculator with LCD display, which calculates the body mass index BMI is only an approximation for determining potential using the two basic parameters that are weight and height. The weight problems but it cannot be used as a diagnostic tool. A hardware of the project consists of a load cell or a weighing person will be on a great risk if they have a high BMI. mechanism, which is used to calculate the body weight of a person, Through these measurements physician can recommend and a built in height calculating mechanism, which is use to different health risk related to weight. For example Skin fold calculate the height of a person. The weight of the person is calculated in Kilograms and the height in meters in accordance of measurements, fitness of a person, nutritionist can decide the the BMI standard formula [3]. The microcontroller based diet of a person, and other screening of person’s health. automated Body Mass Index calculator is a useful device when it B. of BMI comes to controlling your weight and maintaining a healthy life style. The calculated weight of the person through load cell, The calculation of BMI can be calculated with the help of converts the mechanical force into electrical that can be given standard formula. easily obtain after processing through microcontroller. While the height of the person is calculated by the ultrasound sensor with BMI = [(Weight in Kilograms / (Height in Meters x Height in built-in transmit and receive circuitry as when it transits the Meters)] [3]. (1) ultrasound by transmitter, it reflect back to the receiver after striking the object or person and height is then calculated by C. Health Consequences of Overweight and Obesity multiplying the speed of the ultrasound signal and the time taken Overweight and obese individuals are at increased risk for by the it to return back to the sensor. All this data is manipulated many diseases and health conditions, including the, high through microcontroller and then the result is displayed on the LCD display. blood pressure, high LDL cholesterol and low HDL cholesterol, diabetes, plaque in arteries of heart, heart Stroke, gallbladder infection, degenerative joint disease, respiratory Keywords-Component; Body Mass Index Calculator; Maintaining Healthy Life Style; Load Cell; Ultrasound Sensor. problems, and breast cancer [4]. I. INTRODUCTION II. CONCEPT OF BMI It is not a new concept to calculate BMI by using a ODY Mass Index, can approximately calculates the total th B fat of the person present in the body. BMI is based on formula, in 19 century; Quetelet Index of Obesity was the two variables such as height and weight of the person. introduced by a Belgian statistician named Adolph Quetelet. Even tough, the BMI does not give an exact measurement of According to his index, BMI is calculated by dividing weight total body fatness but according to many researches on BMI, of a person in kilogram by square of their height in inches. one thing is clearly obtain that it is correlated with total body Before 1980, physicians were generally using tables for fat like other methods of body fat calculation, such as dual weight and height estimations and they were different for energy x-ray absorptiometry and underwater weighing men and women with incorporated ranges of body weights techniques [1], [2]. BMI is a widely used method compared for height in inches. But these tables were imperfect as it to other body fat detection techniques due to its relied on weight only, not on the body composition inexpensiveness and ease of calculating health risks related [5].Currently there is so much advancement in the BMI to obesity. calculation like the height and weight is calculated automatically with the help of formula and the data is then automatically fed in the which shows the BMI of Burhan uddin Ismail is with Biomedical Engineering Department, NED the person on the monitor screen or on LCD display. University of Engineering & Technology, Karachi-Pakistan. Syed Fahad Akbar Ali and Ali Asghar Ayaz are with Biomedical A. Aim of the Project Engineering Department, Sir Syed University of Engineering & Technology, Karachi-Pakistan. The aim of the project was to design a BMI unit which Email: [email protected], [email protected], gives numeric value and this numeric value gives a [email protected] which correlates to the body fat composition. If the numeric value is less than 20, the person will consider as

162 2nd International Conference on Electrical, Electronics and Civil Engineering (ICEECE'2012) Singapore April 28-29, 2012 underweight and person will be considered healthy it the ultrasounds’ and the ‘time taken by the ultrasounds’ to return value lies between 20 and 25. Above 25 is considered as back to the sensor. The data received from the Ultrasound overweight and above 35 is considered as Obese. In such Sensor and the Load Cell is then sent to the microcontroller, case we require a precise instrument to calculate percent where take place and then the result is sent to body fat like immersion tank. Two people having same the . weight might not float on the same level due to the A. Project Design difference in Body fat composition. BMI is useful tool for health related professional and investigators in some cases The design of our project is shown in figure 1in the form where risks of death are high for the overweight person, one of flow chart. extra pound can put a person on critical situation. People with coronary heart problems are one of them. Fat in our B. Main Features body increases which blocks the veins and arises different problems. The automatic or the electronic body mass Our BMI machine is a modern, elegant, and importantly calculator could be a useful tool to overcome the margin of an accurate electro medical device that will measure one’s errors height and weight in just a matter of a minute. Its main features are as, measuring of height and weight, Calculates

body mass index, displays the output on the LCD screen, III. DESIGN METHODOLOGY easy to operate with minimum user interactions, accurate results. The weight of the person is calculated through the load cell or a digital weighing machine. The height of the person C. Applications in Biomedical Engineering is calculated by the ultrasound sensor. There is an ultrasounds sensor which both transmits and receives The automatic Body mass index calculator has many ultrasounds. First it emits ultrasounds, and when they strike applications in the vast field of biomedical any object or person in its proximity, they are reflected back engineering. As we all know that the biomedical after striking it, which is sensed by the sensor again. The engineering is about the application of engineering in height is actually calculated by multiplying the ‘speed of the

Fig. 1. Flow Chart of Automated Body Mass Index Calculator Fig. 2. Block Diagram of BMI Circuit

163 2nd International Conference on Electrical, Electronics and Civil Engineering (ICEECE'2012) Singapore April 28-29, 2012 the field of medicine. The electronic BMI is such a the person is calculated by the ultrasound sensor; there device which is used in Hospitals, Clinics, and even is an ultrasounds sensor which both transmits and Pharmacies. It can be placed at Gyms, Airports, receives ultrasounds. It emits ultrasounds, and when Hotels, Bus Stands and other social places as well. they strike any object or person in its proximity, they Obesity as we all know is the leading cause of death are reflected back after striking it. The height is nowadays, either directly or indirectly. And BMI is actually calculated by multiplying the speed of the the most convenient and most efficient measure of ultrasound and the time taken by the ultrasounds to obesity. Our particular project aims to provide a return back to the sensor. The data received from the further convenient way to measure BMI as it removes Ultrasound Sensor and the Load Cell is then sent to the the hassle of calculations. It can also be used for microcontroller, where calculations take place and the commercial purposes by installing a fool proof coin result is sent to the display device. The Automatic acceptor system. Body Mass Index Calculator has many applications in the vast field of Bio-Medical engineering. As it is a D. Construction of the Project well-known fact that the Bio-medical engineering is The figure 2 and figure 3 shows the construction of our about the application of electronics into the field of project in the form of block diagram and the circuit board of medicine; the Automatic BMI Calculator is such a the BMI calculator unit respectively. device which is used in Hospitals, Clinics and even Pharmacies. By adding a coin acceptor system, we can use BMI even for commercial purposes.

VI. CONCLUSION We can conclude from our project study, how important BMI as a statistical tool is, to calculate the Health Risk of different diseases. The theoretical study, which we did in the start of our project, tells us the significance of BMI as a heath indicator. By designing the different aspects of our Automatic Body Mass Index Calculator, we discovered the application of the electronic principles that we learned in our course work. We also learned a great deal about application of Mechanical principles that are so vital to any type of engineering application. We readily improved our skills in Micro-controller, and ascertain the wide array of applications of Micro-Controller. By compiling this report, we learned the importance of preserving the information in black & white. It helped us throughout, in our different stages of project implementation, by being a constant guide in difficult Fig. 3. Circuit View of BMI Calculator Controlling Unit times. Last but not the least, we discovered the IV. RESULTS importance of team work, and how straightforward the journeys becomes when people collaborate with each Body Mass Index is a name given to the ratio of other, and help each other in difficult times. one’s height and weight which represents the body fat percentage against the weight of organs, muscles or REFERENCES bone. Increasing BMI will indicate higher fat [1] Mei Z, Grummer-Strawn LM, Pietrobelli A, Goulding A, Goran MI, percentage in one’s body. The main objective of our Dietz WH. Validity of body mass index compared with other body- composition screening indexes for the assessment of body fatness. project was to develop a machine that was capable of American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 2002; 7:597–985. calculating a person’s height and weight automatically [2] Garrow JS and Webster J. Quetelet's index (W/H2) as a measure of and computing the person’s BMI. Our Automatic BMI fatness. International Journal of Obesity 1985; 9:147–153. Calculator was planned as a modern, elegant, [3] BMI Formula: An Overview, Using the Metric System. Written electronic and importantly “accurate” medical device by/reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD that will measure one’s height and weight in just a [4] Clinical Guidelines on the Identification, Evaluation, and Treatment matter of a minute. of Overweight and Obesity in Adults. [5] Michael Snyder, M.D. (2010). A Life without Dieting. Hay House, V. DISCUSSION Inc.

The weight of the person is calculated through the load cell or a digital weighing machine. The height of

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