BMI (Body Mass Index) Calculator

What is BMI and What Does My BMI Number Mean?

Body Mass Index (BMI) is a tool used to assess your weight in relation to your height. It’s a simple yet effective way to categorize individuals into different weight groups. For adults aged 20 and over, BMI falls into one of four primary categories:

• Underweight: Below 18.5
• Healthy Weight: 18.5 – 24.9
• Overweight: 25.0 – 29.9
• Obesity: 30.0 and above

For individuals of Asian descent, health risks may increase at lower BMI thresholds. Typically, a BMI between 23 and 25 may classify someone as overweight, and a BMI of 25 or higher may be categorized as obesity due to higher health risks in this group.

BMI measurements for children and teens under 20 differ, as they are based on percentile rankings to account for changes in body fat as they grow. The categories for kids are as follows:

• Underweight: Less than the 5th percentile
• Healthy Weight: 5th percentile to less than the 85th percentile
• Overweight: 85th percentile to less than the 95th percentile
• Obesity: Equal to or greater than the 95th percentile

What BMI Doesn’t Tell You

While BMI is a useful screening tool to help identify potential health risks related to weight, it has limitations. It does not provide the full picture of your health and doesn’t measure certain factors that are important to consider:

• Fat Distribution: BMI does not indicate where body fat is stored. For instance, visceral fat, which surrounds your organs, poses a greater health risk than subcutaneous fat, which lies just under the skin. High levels of visceral fat can increase the risk of diabetes, heart disease, and other serious conditions.

• Age: As you age, especially after 30, your body tends to store more fat. BMI doesn’t take age into account when assessing body fat percentage changes over time.

• Sex Differences: At the same BMI, women generally have about 10% more body fat than men due to physiological differences.

• Ethnicity and Race: Different ethnicities may have variations in body composition, such as bone density and body fat percentage, which can affect BMI readings.

• Muscle Mass: Since BMI measures weight relative to height, it doesn’t distinguish between muscle and fat. Someone with more muscle mass may have a higher BMI but not be overweight or obese.

• Pregnancy: BMI is not a reliable tool to assess whether you're at a healthy weight during pregnancy. It’s best to consult your healthcare provider to determine an appropriate weight range for this stage in life.

How to Interpret Your BMI Range

BMI is a useful indicator for determining which weight category you fall into. It provides a basic sense of whether your weight might be increasing the risk of developing certain health issues, such as heart disease or diabetes. However, it’s important to understand that BMI alone doesn’t determine whether you're "healthy" or "unhealthy," nor does it diagnose any medical condition.

For a clearer understanding of your health, speak with your healthcare provider. They can help interpret your BMI in the context of your overall health, and work with you to make informed decisions about maintaining or improving your well-being. Remember, BMI is just one tool among many in evaluating your health journey.