What is BMI and Why Does it Matter for Your Health?

What is BMI Used For?

Now, you may wonder what BMI is used for? Why is BMI important to your health?

BMI is widely used by doctors and fitness professionals worldwide to assess general health and body fat. Higher body fat can be a signal of health risks, such as heart diseases, diabetes, low metabolism, fatty liver, high cholesterol, etc., while lower body fat can indicate malnutrition, anemia, etc. Knowing your BMI can help you get a comprehensive picture of your health and identify corrective measures you may need to take for your well-being.

Generally, a higher BMI is associated with higher body fat or a higher likelihood of developing health issues. However, you must remember that BMI alone is not an accurate parameter to analyse health or body fat since it does not take into account other important factors. Some of the BMI limitations include muscle mass, water retention, gender, and age.

Now, the question may arise, if it is not the only measure, why is it important to know BMI? Although BMI may not tell the complete story and must be studied with other parameters to understand the whole picture, it remains an important factor that enables you to easily determine whether your weight is healthy or not. It allows you to assess early health risks, analyse health trends, and make informed medical & fitness decisions.

Knowing the healthy BMI range allows you to determine your ideal body weight and set health goals accordingly. But what does being in the healthy range mean? It means that your weight is ideal per your height, implying you are more likely to have overall good health.

What are the Different BMI Categories?

Here are the different weight categories per BMI reading:

Weight Class

BMI Range

Underweight

BMI less than 18

Optimal Weight

BMI between 18.5 to 24.9

Overweight

BMI between 25 to 29.9

Class 1 Obese

BMI between 30 to 34.9

Class 2 Obese

BMI between 35 to 39.9

Class 3 Obese

BMI over 40

Anyone whose BMI is between 18.5 to 24.9 is deemed to have a normal weight, while a lower BMI means that the person is underweight and must focus on healthy weight gain. On the other hand, if a person’s BMI is in the range of 25 to 29.9, they may be considered slightly overweight and should work to achieve a healthy weight. However, if someone falls in the Class 2 or Class 3 Obese category, they must take their health seriously as this can be an indicator of underlying medical conditions.

How to Calculate BMI?

The formula to calculate the Body Mass Index is: weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared. You can also use an online BMI calculator to determine your BMI instantly without manual calculations.

Let us understand the BMI calculator with an example. Say, we want to know what is the BMI of a 70 kg person. We also know that the BMI depends on height; let us assume their height is 1.62 meters.

Now,

BMI = Weight (kg) ÷ Height (m²)

In this case, BMI = 70 ÷ (1.62)² = 26.72

Hence, the BMI of a 70 kg person who is 1.65 meters tall is 26.72, and they fall into the overweight category. Such a person must focus on ways to naturally reduce BMI and scale up to the optimal weight category.

Why is BMI Important?

Here are some reasons why the BMI range is not just a number but an important factor to consider when making health-related decisions.

Simple Health MeasureBMI is a quick, easy and reliable health tool that gives a reflection of your overall health. It does not require any equipment or expensive tests. You must just know your height and weight to get your BMI. Hence, it can be used by anyone to gain insight into their health conditions.

Target Ideal Body WeightIf you know your current BMI, you can easily map it to the BMI range to determine which category your weight falls into, i.e., whether you are underweight, overweight or obese. This helps you know your ideal body weight. You set your fitness goals and modify health plans accordingly.

Identify Health Risks EarlyThere is a direct link between BMI and the risk of chronic illnesses, like heart disease, diabetes, high BP, etc. When you calculate BMI, you can co-relate it with your health condition to identify any signs of chronic illnesses at an early stage. Hence, BMI calculation gives directional guidance, allowing you to curb that state and aim for an ideal BMI range.

Understand Health TrendsSuppose you were in the overweight category, but now you have slipped into the obese category, this can be a signal of worsening health conditions or a health area that needs your attention. Similarly, if you are now in the ideal BMI range from being underweight, you must now cater to a diet and lifestyle that is in line with it. Hence, analysing your health trends over time allows you to assess your health conditions more effectively. By using a Body Mass Index calculator, you can easily keep a tab on your BMI.

Encourage a Healthy LifestyleIf the Body Mass Index is not in an ideal range, it usually encourages the person to adapt to healthier choices, like increasing physical activities, indulging in meditation and breathing exercises, eating balanced & nutritional foods, and so on. Knowing you are at your ideal weight also boosts your self-confidence.

Tool for Bigger Medical AssessmentsBMI calculation is often used as part of the bigger health check-ups. This means that usually doctors co-relate your BMI or weight with the symptoms you complain about or the diagnostic test results to carve the further path for medical assessment and treatment.

Design Customized Health PlansOnce you know your BMI, you can get a direction you need to work in. You can obtain personalized recommendations tailored to your health needs based on your BMI range to help you reach your fitness goal. It is also used as a part of diet plans to determine your nutritional condition and needs.

FAQs

Q1. What does a healthy BMI mean?

Ans: A healthy BMI means that the person has a healthy weight. A BMI range between 18.5 and 24.9 is considered to be the most healthy.
Q2. What is the correct BMI for my age?

Ans: The BMI chart does not take into consideration the age of the person. The BMI range is categorised for adults. Hence, the correct BMI for adults ranges between 18.5 and 24.9. BMI for children and teens does not correspond to a single value; it is represented as a percentile of comparison with the peers of the same age and gender.
Q3. What is the danger zone for BMI?

Ans: The danger zone for BMI can be classified as the categories where the person has to be most careful. This includes being in the categories of Underweight (below 18.5) or Class 2 Obesity and above (with a BMI of 35.0 or higher). Most health problems can start in these BMI ranges; hence, one must be careful if their BMI falls into these categories.
Q4. Can you have a healthy BMI and be unhealthy?

Ans: Yes, you can be unfit even if you have a healthy BMI. This is because BMI does not take into account various health factors that can impact the health of an individual, such as body composition, muscle mass, etc. If you have a healthy BMI but have low muscle mass or high visceral fat, you may be at an increased risk of health issues, despite having a healthy BMI.
Q5. Is a Body Mass Index (BMI) calculator reliable?

Ans: Yes. A Body Mass Index calculator is a reliable and easy way to measure your BMI. You can use an online BMI calculator for quick calculations if you do not wish to manually calculate the BMI.
Q6. What is the fastest way to lower your BMI?

Ans: The fastest way to lower your BMI is by creating a calorie deficit. If you decrease the number of calories you consume in a day, it can lead to quick weight loss, thus lowering your BMI. You can use a calorie calculator to determine your daily calorie needs and then calculate the amount of calories you need to cut down to reach your targeted weight.

What is BMI and Why Does it Matter for Your Health?

FAQs

Q1. What does a healthy BMI mean?

Q2. What is the correct BMI for my age?

Q3. What is the danger zone for BMI?

Q4. Can you have a healthy BMI and be unhealthy?

Q5. Is a Body Mass Index (BMI) calculator reliable?

Q6. What is the fastest way to lower your BMI?