1. What is BMI?

Body Mass Index (BMI) is a simple index of weight-for-height that is commonly used to classify underweight, normal weight, overweight and obesity in adults. For Asian populations like Filipinos, lower BMI cut-off points are used due to higher health risks at lower BMI levels compared to Caucasians.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the standard BMI formula:

Where:

• \( weight \) — Body weight in kilograms
• \( height \) — Height in meters

Explanation: The formula calculates body mass per unit of height squared, providing a standardized measure of body composition.

3. Asian BMI Classification

Details: For Asian populations including Filipinos, the WHO recommends these BMI categories:

• Underweight: BMI < 18.5
• Normal weight: BMI 18.5-22.9
• Overweight: BMI 23-27.4
• Obese: BMI ≥ 27.5

These lower thresholds reflect higher risks of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease at lower BMI levels in Asian populations.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter weight in kilograms and height in meters. For height, you can convert from cm to m by dividing by 100 (e.g., 170 cm = 1.70 m). All values must be valid (weight > 0, height > 0).

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: Why are BMI categories different for Asians?
A: Asians tend to have higher body fat percentage at lower BMI levels and develop obesity-related diseases at lower BMI thresholds compared to Caucasians.

Q2: Is BMI accurate for athletes?
A: BMI may overestimate body fat in muscular individuals and underestimate it in older people with less muscle mass.

Q3: What's a healthy BMI for Filipinos?
A: For Filipinos, a BMI between 18.5-22.9 is considered healthy, with increased health risks above 23.

Q4: Should children use this calculator?
A: No, children and teens need age- and sex-specific BMI percentiles rather than adult categories.

Q5: What are alternatives to BMI?
A: Waist circumference, waist-to-hip ratio, and body fat percentage measurements can provide additional information.