What is my Body Mass Index?

For adults, a normal BMI falls between 18.5 and 24.9. However, it’s important to remember that BMI has its limitations. It doesn’t distinguish between muscle mass and fat mass. So, if you’re an athlete with a lot of muscle, your BMI might suggest you have a higher body fat percentage than you actually do. On the flip side, older adults who have lost muscle may have a lower BMI that doesn’t accurately reflect their body fat. In those cases, you might want to look into additional methods, like a body composition calculator.

Calculating your BMI is pretty straightforward! Here’s how you do it: Divide your weight in kilograms by your height in square meters. The formula looks like this: BMI =weight (kg) / height (m)^2 Let’s break that down with an example! Example Calculation Imagine you weigh 75 kg and are 180 cm tall. First, you’ll need to convert your height to meters (180 cm = 1.8 m). Now, plug those values into the formula: BMI=75(1.8)2=23.15 So, your BMI is 23.15, which falls right into the normal weight range

Internationally the BMI scale has been categorized into ranges to define whether someone is underweight, normal, overweight, or obese: Underweight: Less than 18.5 Normal weight: 18.5 – 24.9 Overweight: 25 – 29.9 Obesity Class I: 30 – 34.9 Obesity Class II: 35 – 39.9 Obesity Class II (Morbid ObesityI: > 40 The range for the Asian and South Asian Indian populations is different than the range for other populations: Overweight - BMI between 23 and 24.9 Obesity - BMI greater than 25