Body Mass Index (BMI) measures a person’s weight in kilograms/square inch of height in meters.
It’s used to screen for weight categories and can be an indicator of increased levels of fat tissue, including risks for metabolic diseases like diabetes mellitus, fatty liver disease and hypertension.
- Underweight: BMI < 18
- Normal: BMI 18-25
- Overweight: BMI 25- 29.9
- Class 1 Obesity: BMI 30 – 34.9
- Class 2 Obesity: BMI 35- 39.9
- Class 3 Obesity: BMI > 40
Although BMI can be used to assess risk factors for individuals carrying extra weight, it is not a one-size-fits-all measure to set weight loss goals or determine a healthy weight.
Learn more about the considerations for BMI, why body composition matters and the bottom line by reading the full article here.