Body Mass Index (BMI) is an index of a person's weight in relation to height, not body composition. BMI values apply to both men and women, regardless of their age, frame size, or muscle mass. These values do not apply to athletes and body builders, pregnant and nursing women, frail or elderly persons or persons under 18. Use this information, along with other health indices, to assess your need to change your weight. A BMI of 25 or more indicates overweight, obesity is equal to or greater than BMI 30.
Below are the BMI ranges for interpreting your own BMI results.
Generally speaking, the higher your BMI is, the greater your risk of developing health problems related to weight such as heart disease, diabetes, and cancer.
BMI of 18 and under
You may be underweight for your height. Health-related reasons for underweight could be smoking habits or poor nutrition. Women who become severely underweight may stop having their menstrual period and become infertile.
BMI of 19 to 24
This range is considered to be the "healthy weight" range. People who have a BMI within this range generally have a low risk for developing weight-related health problems.
BMI of 25 to 29
This range is considered to be the "overweight" range. People who have a BMI within this range have a moderate risk for developing weight-related health problems.
BMI of 30 and over
This range is considered to be the "obese" range. People who have a BMI within this range have a high risk for developing weight-related health problems.
A Few Things to Remember About BMI
Remember that your BMI is only one way of assessing your general health and risk for disease. A complete picture of your health risks depends on a variety of other factors, such as your family health history and your occupation.
Also, keep in mind that BMI does not measure your body composition - how much fat and muscle you have. So a person who has a lot of muscle, like a professional bodybuilder, may be "overweight" by BMI standards but not at risk for weight-related health problems.
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