BMI

Body Mass Index

What is BMI?

BMI (Body Mass Index) is a screening method traditionally used to measure weight categories – underweight, normal/healthy weight, overweight, obese

How is it calculated?

BMI Category	BMI
Underweight	below 18.5
Healthy weight	18.5-24.9
Overweight	25.0-29.9
Obese	30.0 or higher

What are the limitations of BMI?

BMI tends to overestimate body fat composition for athletes (or individuals with high muscle mass) and underestimates body fat composition for elderly people. The BMI system was invented by Adolphe Quetelet, a Belgian mathematician. He founded the BMI system based on studying “average” white men (homme moyen).

BMI SHOULD ONLY BE USED IN COMBINATION WITH OTHER ASSESSMENT TOOLS.