Body Mass Index

The Body Mass Index is a simple indicator of the relationship between your height and your weight. If your BMI is above 25 you are considered overweight and if your BMI is above 30 you are considered obese.

Instructions:
1. Measure your height and weight and enter values
2. Note that the intepretation of the result do not apply to people whith an abnormal muscle mass.

BMI

22.5

Normal weight

Height

ft' in''

170

Weight

lbs

143

Background:

Body mass index is a useful tool for assessing overweight in populations. It is however a very unprecise evaluation of overweight on an individual level as muscularity and general frame size of the body is not taken in to account.

Classification of overweight in relation to BMI

Classification	BMI (kg/m2)
Underweight	<18.5
Normal weight	18.5-24.9
Overweight	25.0-29.9
Obesity class I	30.0-34.9
Obesity class II	35.0-39.9
Obesity class III	> 40

References:

Preventing and Managing the Global Epidemic of Obesity. Report of the World Health Organization Consultation of Obesity. WHO, Geneva, June 1997.

Quetelet LAJ. Sur I'homme et le developpement de ses facultes, ou essai de physique sociale. Paris: Bachelier, 1835. (The original BMI-reference)