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The Body Mass Index (BMI) is one way to measure body size. It's a tool to estimate body fat and screen for obesity and health risks. It can be calculated with a BMI calculator and classifies people as being underweight, overweight, and obese based on their height and weight.
You can use the BMI calculator here to divide your weight in kg by
your height in meters and compare your result to the BMI classes.
Enter your height and weight and check your results in the table
below. Click on a BMI class to learn more.
Classification | BMI |
Underweight | Below 18.5 |
Normal | 18.5-24.9 |
Overweight | 25.0-29.9 |
Obesity | 30 and above |
Class I | 30.0-34.9 |
Class II | 35.0-39.9 |
Class III | 40 and above |
*This BMI calculator is for adults 20 years or older. Talk to your doctor about your BMI if you're under the age of 20.
BMI is a good way to check your risk of diseases related to body fat. Living with overweight or obesity is associated with an increased risk of mortality and other diseases or conditions. Generally, the higher your BMI, the greater the risk of developing other chronic obesity-related diseases, including:
Ask your doctor for more information about any of these diseases and
how they relate to your BMI. You can also learn more about the health
benefits of losing weight here.
BMI is a simple and objective measurement, but it can be misleading in certain cases and for some groups of people. Research has shown that BMI is less accurate in predicting the risk of disease in people who are older, athletes, those who are tall or short, and those with more muscular body types. For example, elite athletes or bodybuilders have more muscle and weigh more, which makes their BMI higher.
BMI also doesn't take into account:
It's important to remember that living with obesity doesn't necessarily mean you're unhealthy, just as being at a ‘normal’ weight doesn't mean you're healthy. Your BMI doesn't define you, but knowing and understanding your BMI can be a powerful tool for taking charge of your own health.
Regardless of your BMI, healthcare professionals recommend having a
healthy diet and lifestyle. Talk to your doctor about your weight and
health and evaluate what actions may be needed.
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Talk to your weight management provider about treatment options that could prevent the weight you lose from coming back.