Body Mass Index (BMI) is a widely used tool to assess whether a person has a healthy body weight for their height. While it's not a perfect measure, it provides a quick screening method for weight categories that may lead to health problems.
How BMI is Calculated
The BMI calculation is simple: weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared (kg/m²). For those using imperial measurements, the formula is (weight in pounds / height in inches²) x 703.
BMI Categories
- Underweight: BMI below 18.5
- Normal weight: BMI 18.5-24.9
- Overweight: BMI 25-29.9
- Obesity: BMI 30 or higher
Limitations of BMI
While useful for population studies, BMI has limitations:
- Doesn't distinguish between muscle and fat
- May not be accurate for athletes with high muscle mass
- May underestimate health risks for some ethnic groups
- Doesn't account for fat distribution
For a more complete health assessment, consider combining BMI with other measurements like waist circumference and body fat percentage.