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What is BMI?
Body Mass Index (BMI) is a number calculated from a person’s weight and height. BMI is a reliable indicator of body fatness for people.
How is BMI used?
BMI is used as a screening tool to identify possible weight problems for adults. However, BMI is not a diagnostic tool.
What is another way to measure obesity?
Waist circumference; 40 inch waist circumference or more for men and 35 inches or more for women indicates obesity. Abdominal fat, which is called "visceral fat" is a predictor for obesity-related diseases.
For more information about interpretation for children and teens, visit
The standard weight status categories associated with BMI ranges for adults are shown in the following table.
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BMI
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Weight Status
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Below 18.5
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Underweight
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18.5 – 24.9
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Normal
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25.0 – 29.9
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Overweight
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30.0 and Above
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Obese
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How reliable is BMI as an indicator of body fatness?
The correlation between the BMI number and body fatness is fairly strong; however the correlation varies by sex, race, and age. These variations include the following examples:
- At the same BMI, women tend to have more body fat than men.
- At the same BMI, older people, on average, tend to have more body fat than younger adults.
- Highly trained athletes may have a high BMI because of increased muscularity rather than increased body fatness.
If an athlete or other person with a lot of muscle has a BMI over 25, is that person still considered to be overweight?
According to the BMI weight status categories, anyone with a BMI over 25 would be classified as overweight and anyone with a BMI over 30 would be classified as obese.
It is important to remember, however, that BMI is not a direct measure of body fatness and that BMI is calculated from an individual’s weight which includes both muscle and fat. As a result, some individuals may have a high BMI but not have a high percentage of body fat. For example, highly trained athletes may have a high BMI because of increased muscularity rather than increased body fatness.
What are the health consequences of overweight and obesity for adults?
- Hypertension
- Dyslipidemia (for example, high LDL cholesterol, low HDL cholesterol, or high levels of triglycerides)
- Type 2 diabetes
- Coronary heart disease
- Stroke
- Gallbladder disease
- Osteoarthritis
- Sleep apnea and respiratory problems
- Some cancers (endometrial, breast, and colon)
Please use the BMI calculator at the top of the page, if your BMI falls within the overweight or obese range please call "The Healthier You" for more information to get you started on a healthy lifestyle.
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