Your Body Mass Index (BMI) is a simple number that gives you a quick snapshot of whether your weight is in a healthy range for your height. While it's not a perfect measure of health, it's widely used by doctors and health organisations worldwide as a first screening tool.
For example: 70kg ÷ (1.75 × 1.75) = BMI of 22.9
| BMI Range | Category | Health Risk |
|---|---|---|
| Below 18.5 | Underweight | Malnutrition, weak immunity |
| 18.5 – 24.9 | Normal weight | Lowest health risk |
| 25.0 – 29.9 | Overweight | Moderate risk |
| 30.0 – 34.9 | Obese Class I | High risk |
| 35.0 – 39.9 | Obese Class II | Very high risk |
| 40+ | Obese Class III | Extremely high risk |
BMI is a useful starting point but has real limitations. It doesn't distinguish between muscle and fat — a heavily muscled athlete might show as "overweight" despite being very healthy. It also doesn't account for age, gender, or where fat is distributed in the body.
If your BMI falls outside the normal range, it's a signal worth discussing with a doctor — not a diagnosis. Use it as one data point alongside other health indicators like waist circumference, blood pressure, and cholesterol levels.
A BMI between 18.5 and 24.9 is considered healthy for most adults. However, this range is a guideline — your doctor considers many other factors.
The same BMI formula is used for both men and women. However, women naturally carry more body fat than men at the same BMI, so some health organisations use adjusted guidelines.
Yes, especially if the excess weight is muscle rather than fat. However, high BMI from fat is associated with increased risk of type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and other conditions.