What is BMI?

The acronym BMI stands for Body Mass Index. It has been established by the World Health Organization in 1997. The BMI is defined as the body mass divided by the square of the body height, and is universally expressed in units of kg/m2, resulting from mass in kilograms and height in metres. The BMI is widely used as a scale to evaluate the risks of being over or under your ideal body weight.

Your BMI result

The BMI and its different levels are meant to help locate your corpulence on a specific scale. There are 4 main levels:

➤ Underweight

Being underweight could be a sign that you're not eating enough or that you may be ill.

➤ Healthy weight

Well done. Keep up the good work.

➤ Overweight

A body mass index (BMI) above the healthy weight range can increase your risk of serious health problems, like heart disease, type 2 diabetes, stroke and certain cancers. The best way to lose weight is through a combination of diet and exercise.

➤ Obese

The best way to lose weight is through a combination of diet and exercise and in some cases medication. Obesity is associated with 51% increase in mortality compared with people who have always been a normal weight.

Limitations of the BMI

This Body Mass Index is based on your size and weight. Since its creation, the BMI system has been designed for adults between 18 and 65. It means that these calculations do not apply to : children, pregnant women, athletes, and seniors.

The BMI can't tell the difference between excess fat, muscle, or bone. For example: very muscular adults and athletes may be classed "overweight" or "obese" even though their body fat is low.