About Body Mass Index
BMI is a reliable indicator of total body fat, which is related to the risk of disease and death. The score is valid for both men and women but it does have some limits. The limits are:
- It may overestimate body fat in athletes and others who have a muscular build.
- It may underestimate body fat in older persons and others who have lost muscle mass.
- Does not apply to those under 18
- Does not apply if you are pregnant
In order to be eligible for bariatric surgery, you must have a certain body mass index, or BMI. Doctors calculate this based on your height and weight. You can enter your information in the form to the right »
Most people know...
...before they use the BMI Calculator whether they need to lose weight. What they often don't realize is just how overweight they are - and the possible health implications of their present weight.Scoring the Body Mass Index
The following BMI scoring categories are based on guidelines established by the National Institute of Health:
- < 18.5 indicates that you are underweight
- 18.6 - 24.9 indicates that are at healthy weight
- 25.0 - 29.9 indicates that you are overweight
- 30.0+ indicates that you are obese
- 40.0+ may indicate that you are morbidly obese
How is the BMI calculated?
BMI is an index of your weight in relation to your height. It does not measure or evaluate body composition. Your BMI score provides vital, valuable general information that can help you in assessing your present health and evaluating the need to make changes in your diet and level and/or frequency of exercise. The higher your BMI score, the greater your risk of developing such health problems as coronary heart disease, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, strokes and/or some cancers.