Body Mass Index (BMI), or Quetelet index, is a measure of relative weight based on an individual's mass and height. It is defined as the individual's body mass divided by the square of their height – with the value universally being given in units of kg/m2.
BMI is used in a wide variety of contexts as a simple method to assess health of an individual as how much an individual's body weight differ from what is normal or desirable for a person of his or her height. BMI provides a simple numeric measure of a person's thickness or thinness, allowing health professionals to discuss overweight and underweight problems more objectively with their patients
The current value and its interpretation are - a BMI of 18.5 to 25 may indicate optimal weight, a BMI lower than 18.5 suggests the person is underweight, a number above 25 may indicate the person is overweight, a number above 30 suggests the person is obese.
Thought the BMI scale is assigned different categories in different countries, the general BMI chart for reference is as below:
| Category | BMI range – kg/m2 |
| Very severely underweight | less than 15 |
| Severely underweight | from 15.0 to 16.0 |
| Underweight | from 16.0 to 18.5 |
| Normal (healthy weight) | from 18.5 to 25 |
| Overweight | from 25 to 30 |
| Obese Class I (Moderately obese) | from 30 to 35 |
| Obese Class II (Severely obese) | from 35 to 40 |
| Obese Class III (Very severely obese) | over 40 |
BMI for Children:
BMI is used differently for children. It is calculated the same way as for adults, but then compared to typical values for other children of the same age. Instead of set thresholds for underweight and overweight, the BMI percentile allows comparison with children of the same sex and age. A BMI that is less than the 5th percentile is considered underweight and above the 95th percentile is considered obese for children’s and young adult up to 20 years of age. People under 20 with a BMI between the 85th and 95th percentile are considered to be overweight.
Also See:
» BMI Calculator (Body Mass Index)
» BMR Calculator (daily calorie requirement)
» Ideal Weight Calculator (for Adult)
» Weight Management (for Adult)