Body Mass Index

“BMI is one measure that an individual
and their health care provider can use
to help determine chronic disease risk”.1

Definition

What is body mass index (BMI)?

Depending on the Source (DotS) the definition of BMI may vary. In Obesity: Overview – How To Tell If You’re Living With Obesity: Body Mass Index (BMI) the (United Kingdom) NHS’s definition is:

“BMI is a measure of whether you’re a healthy weight for your height”.2

The (United States) National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute’s (NHLBI) definition is:

“Body mass index (BMI) is a measure of body fat based on height and weight that applies to adult men and women”.3

Calculate

How is BMI calculated?

In BMI: About Body Mass Index (BMI) – BMI As A Measure the (United States) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) elaborate on:

“BMI is a calculated measure of a person’s body weight (in kilograms) divided by the square of their height (in meters).

BMI = weight (kg) / height (m)2”.4

Measure

What is BMI a useful measure of?

In Assessing Your Weight and Health Risk: Body Mass Index (BMI) the NHLBI explain:

“BMI is a useful measure of overweight and obesity. It is calculated from your height and weight. BMI is an estimate of body fat and a good gauge of your risk for diseases that can occur with more body fat. The higher your BMI, the higher your risk for certain diseases such as heart disease, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, gallstones, breathing problems, and certain cancers”.5

Ideal

What is an ideal BMI?

In Obesity: Overview – How To Tell If You’re Living With Obesity: Body Mass Index (BMI) the NHS note:

Body Mass Index“For most adults, if your BMI is:

  • 18.5 to 24.9 – you’re in the healthy weight range”.6

Limits

Does BMI have some limits?

The NHLBI explain:

“Although BMI can be used for most men and women, it does have some limits:

  • 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”.7

In BMI: About Body Mass Index (BMI) – BMI As A Measure the CDC also note:

“BMI does not distinguish between fat, muscle, and bone mass. These all influence a person’s weight. BMI does not indicate what types of fat people have. BMI also does not indicate where in the body that people carry fat”.8

Health Care Provider

What if I would like to find out more about my BMI?

If you would like to find out more about your BMI, it may be in your best interest to choose to talk to your health care provider about this.

“BMI is one measure that an individual and their health care provider can use to help determine chronic disease risk. For a more complete picture of an individual’s health, consider BMI with other factors:

  • Medical history, such as existing health conditions and family history
  • Health behaviors, such as diet, physical activity, and sleep
  • Physical exam findings, such as blood pressure and muscle mass
  • Laboratory findings, such as glucose and cholesterol levels”.9

Health Topics A-Z

Where may I find Health Topics A-Z related to Body Mass Index?

In Health Topics A-Z you may find:

Health Topics A-Z

Links

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Links

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Sources

Where may I find the Sources quoted?

You may find the Sources quoted at:

Sources

  1. BMI: About Body Mass Index (BMI) – BMI for Individual Health. 20 May 2024. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention https://www.cdc.gov/bmi/about/ Accessed: 07 February 2025
  2. Obesity: Overview – How To Tell If You’re Living With Obesity: Body Mass Index (BMI). Page Last Reviewed: 15 February 2023. NHS https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/obesity/ Accessed: 07 February 2025
  3. Calculate Your Body Mass Index. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/educational/lose_wt/BMI/bmicalc.htm Accessed: 07 February 2025
  4. BMI: About Body Mass Index (BMI) – BMI As A Measure. 20 May 2024. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention https://www.cdc.gov/bmi/about/ Accessed: 07 February 2025
  5. Assessing Your Weight and Health Risk: Body Mass Index (BMI). National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/educational/lose_wt/risk.htm Accessed: 07 February 2025
  6. Obesity: Overview – How To Tell If You’re Living With Obesity: Body Mass Index (BMI). Page Last Reviewed: 15 February 2023. NHS https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/obesity/ Accessed: 07 February 2025
  7. Assessing Your Weight and Health Risk: Body Mass Index (BMI). National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/educational/lose_wt/risk.htm Accessed: 07 February 2025
  8. BMI: About Body Mass Index (BMI) – BMI As A Measure. 20 May 2024. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention https://www.cdc.gov/bmi/about/ Accessed: 07 February 2025
  9. BMI: About Body Mass Index (BMI) – BMI for Individual Health. 20 May 2024. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention https://www.cdc.gov/bmi/about/ Accessed: 07 February 2025
Topic Last Updated: 07 February 2025 – Topic Last Reviewed: 07 February 2025

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