What is BMI?
Body Mass Index (BMI) is a screening tool used to estimate the amount of body fat a person has. It is calculated based on your height and weight. While it is not a direct measure of body fat, it correlates closely with direct measures.
Understanding the Categories
- Underweight: BMI less than 18.5
- Normal weight: BMI between 18.5 and 24.9
- Overweight: BMI between 25 and 29.9
- Obese: BMI of 30 or greater
Limitations of BMI
BMI is a simple mathematical formula and does not account for muscle mass, bone density, or overall body composition. For example, highly athletic individuals may have a high BMI because of muscle weight, despite having low body fat.