Check Our Free Body Mass Index Calculator
Body mass index scores are broken down into the following categories
- Underweight: Less than 18.5
- Normal: 18.5 to 24.9
- Overweight: 25 to 29.9
- Obese: 30 and above
Obesity is sometimes broken down into additional categories
- Class 1: BMI 30 to <35
- Class 2: BMI 35 to <40
- Class 3 (severe obesity): BMI of 40 or higher
YOUR BMI IS :
Advantage and Disadvantage of BMI
On the plus side, BMI is a simple way to estimate body fat. It’s convenient, inexpensive, and can be used routinely. As a result, it’s an easy way to identify someone who may have a health risk worth looking into. It’s also used universally by medical professionals in research around the world.
However, it also has significant limitations. To start with, it can’t be used to diagnose health issues—just identify possible red flags.
It can also be a false alarm for a significant number of people due to the factors that BMI does not account for. BMI has a number of limitations. This measure does not take into account your age, race, sex, or fitness level.
