A popular tool currently used by health professionals to screen individuals for their degree of obesity is the body mass index calculator. It is based upon a relationship between weight and height, excluding frame size and muscle mass.

Body mass index values between 18.5 and 24.9 are considered “normal” or“ healthy”. BMI values between 25 and 29.9 are considered “overweight” and 30 and above are considered“ obese.” A body mass index of 25 or above are considered unhealthy and statistics have been shown to increase the risk of certain chronic diseases. A BMI under 18.5 are considered “underweight.”

The body mass index tool is generally related to body fat. Higher BMI's usually mean higher body fat. As body fat or BMI increases, especially from values equal to or greater than 30, health risks also increase. Being overweight (Body mass index of 25 to 30) or being obese (BMI greater than 30) increases the risk of having high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, diabetes, certain types of cancer, arthritis, and breathing problems. Research shows that being obese lowers one’s life expectancy. When overweight or obese people lose weight, they also lower their blood pressure, total cholesterol, LDL (or “bad”) cholesterol, increase their HDL (or “good”) cholesterol, improve their blood sugar levels, and reduce their amount of abdominal fat.

For most people, the body mass index calculator provides a good measurement tool to determine obesity. However, BMI does not provide actual information on body composition (i.e. the proportions of muscle, bone, fat, and other tissues that make up a person’s total body weight), and may not be the most appropriate indicator to determine health status for certain groups of men and women.

For example, athletes with dense bones and well developed muscles or people with large body frames may be obese by body mass index standards (i.e. they have BMIs greater than 30), yet they have very little body fat. On the other hand, inactive people may seem to have acceptable weights when, in fact, they may have too much body fat. Similarly, a petite gymnast may be considered underweight but not unhealthy. A body mass index tool, when used for children and adolescents who are still growing, petite and highly muscular individuals, pregnant women, and people with large body frames should be evaluated by a professional.

Check your body mass index by using the BMI calculator below.

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