BMI Calculator: What Your BMI Really Means
By Dheeraj Yadav • June 19, 2026 • 1 min read
What is BMI?
Body Mass Index (BMI) is a simple measure of body weight relative to height. It was developed in the 1800s by Adolphe Quetelet as a population-level screening tool, not as an individual health diagnostic.
BMI Categories (WHO Standard)
- Below 18.5 — Underweight
- 18.5 – 24.9 — Normal Weight
- 25.0 – 29.9 — Overweight
- 30.0 and above — Obese
Limitations of BMI
BMI has significant limitations as an individual health measure. Athletes with high muscle mass often have a "overweight" or "obese" BMI despite being extremely healthy. Elderly people may have a "normal" BMI but carry excess body fat (sarcopenic obesity). BMI also does not account for where fat is distributed — abdominal fat is more metabolically dangerous than fat stored elsewhere.
Better Health Indicators
Waist circumference (under 80cm for women, 94cm for men), waist-to-height ratio, body fat percentage measured by DEXA scan, and blood test results (cholesterol, blood glucose, inflammation markers) paint a more complete picture of health.
Calculate your BMI with our free BMI Calculator.
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