Calculating your BMI, or body mass index, can help you begin to assess your weight and health risks. To calculate your BMI, simply divide your weight in pounds by your height in inches squared, then multiply the answer by 703. Though BMI values can provide a good starting point to a weight and health discussion, they may underestimate or overestimate body fatness and obesity in some individuals.
Basic BMI Interpretation
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention provides four standard weight categories for BMI values. Adults with a BMI below 18.5 fall into the underweight category. Adults with a BMI between 18.5 and 24.9 fall into the normal weight category. Adults with a BMI between 25.0 and 29.9 fall into the overweight category, and adults with a BMI of 30.0 or above fall into the obese category.
Women
BMI can underestimate obesity in women, particularly in women ages 20 to 33, according to MayoClinic.com. Women typically have more body fat than men, according to the CDC, meaning that a woman with the same BMI as a man may have more body fat and a higher risk of obesity-related diseases.
Elderly Adults
Elderly adults often lose muscle mass and gain body fat. Thus, an elderly adult with the same BMI as a younger adult may have more body fat and a higher risk of obesity-related diseases than the younger adult.
Athletes
Highly trained and fit athletes typically have more muscle mass and less body fat than average adults, meaning that at the same BMI, the athlete will have less body fat and a lower risk of obesity-related diseases than the average adult. BMI may overestimate obesity in athletes with particularly dense muscle mass.
Normal Weight Obesity
According to a 2008 Mayo Clinic study, more than half of adults in America with normal-weight BMI values have high body fat percentages. Even with a normal-weight BMI, these adults face increased risks of heart disease and metabolic disturbances, according to the study. The Mayo Clinic suggests that individuals avoid relying solely on BMI and weight to assess their health. Adults should also consider factors such as waist circumference, body fat percentage, physical activity level and family history.
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