Definition: Body Mass Index or BMI is a calculation that determines weight status in adults by using your weight and height. The end result tells you if you're underweight, at a healthy weight, overweight or obese. A body mass index:
- Over 30 is considered obese.
- Between 25 and 29.9 is considered overweight.
- Between 18.5 and 24.9 is considered a healthy bmi.
- Under 18.5 is consider underweight.
There are a few drawbacks to using BMI because it doesn't factor in:
- How much muscle you have
- Frame size
- Gender
- How your body fat is distributed
That means if you're very muscular, pregnant or have a large frame, your BMI calculation may show you as overweight or obese, even when you're not. How your body fat is distributed is also important for predicting your risk of heart disease, obesity-related illnesses and death. It's a good idea to use a variety of tools to determine how healthy your weight and body fat is including waist-to-hip ratio and/or your body fat percentage.
