It is an excellent tool to measure a person’s leanness or fatness as per height and weight. It widely describes whether your are in healthy zone or need to lose or gain weight. BMI ranges may vary based on your exercise regime. More you gain weight more will be the BMI but it does not mean that you are obese it can be because of high muscle mass also.
BMI is Body Mass Index a parameter to assess nutritional status as per height and weight. It is a ratio between weight in kilograms and height in square meters (1).
Standard BMI ranges and nutritional status as per WHO
BMI | WEIGTH STATUS |
---|---|
Below 18.5 | Underweigth |
18.5-24.9 | Normal weigth |
25.0-29.9 | Pre-obesity |
30.0-34.9 | Obesity class 1 |
35.0-39.9 | Obesity class 2 |
Above 40 | Obesity class 3 |