Body Mass Index:2

Body Mass Index:

What is the Body Mass Index (BMI)?
The body mass index is a formula to assess a person's body weight relative to height. It's a useful, indirect measure of body composition, because it correlates highly with body fat in most people.

How is calculated?
The body mass index is calculated by dividing the person's weight in kilograms by his/her height in meters squared (kg/m²).
Or multiply the weight in pounds by 705, divide by the height in inches, then divide again by the height in inches.

What do these values mean?

Underweight	Below 18.5
Normal	18.5 - 24.9
Overweight	25.0 - 29.9
Obesity	30.0 - 39.9
Extreme Obesity	40.0 and Above
	Studies by the National Center for Health Statistics definitions.

Some well-trained people with dense muscle mass may have a high BMI score but very little body fat.

Why are these classifications important?

In 1994, the National Center for Health Statistics data estimated that 104.4 million (53 percent) American adults were overweight. Included in that figure are 42.5 million (22.5 percent)American adults who were obese¹.

People who are overweight or obese have a greater chance of developing high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol or other lipid disorders, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and certain cancers. Weight loss not only helps to control these diseases but may also prevent their development.

Calculate your BMI?

Click here to automatically calculate your BMI.

Click here to get a printable BMI chart.

Want to know more about overweight or obesity?

American Heart Association on obesity. Click here.