Body Mass Index

A measure of someone's weight in relation to height.

to calculate one's BMI:

• multiply one's weight in killograms and
• divide that by the square of one's height in centimetres

Overweight is a BMI greater than 25

Obese is a BMI greater than 30

BMI (Body Mass Index) is a guide and not a definitive number. Age, gender and bone density play a role in calculating whether you are within your ideal weight range.

e.g. For people with heavy muscles, BMI might not be accurate. Being a few points above the optimal weight does not automatically mean overweight.

Women typically carry more subcutaneous fat than men do, particularly in the breast and hips, so their percent body fat may be higher without it necessarily being reflected in their BMI or having any adverse health effects.