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BMI Formula:
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Body Mass Index (BMI) is a simple index of weight-for-height that is commonly used to classify underweight, overweight and obesity in adults. It is defined as the weight in kilograms divided by the square of the height in meters (kg/m²).
The calculator uses the standard BMI formula:
Where:
Explanation: BMI provides a simple numeric measure of a person's thickness or thinness, allowing health professionals to discuss weight problems more objectively with their patients.
Details: Asians have higher health risks at lower BMI levels compared to Caucasians. The WHO Asian BMI classifications are:
Tips: Enter weight in kilograms, height in meters, and age in years. All values must be valid (weight > 0, height > 0, age between 1-120).
Q1: Why is BMI different for Asians?
A: Asians tend to have higher body fat percentage at lower BMI levels and higher risk of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease at lower BMI levels compared to Caucasians.
Q2: What are the limitations of BMI?
A: BMI doesn't distinguish between muscle and fat, so athletes may have high BMI without excess fat. It also doesn't account for fat distribution.
Q3: Does BMI change with age?
A: While the BMI formula doesn't change, healthy BMI ranges may vary by age. Children and teens use age- and sex-specific percentiles.
Q4: Is BMI accurate for elderly?
A: BMI may underestimate health risks in elderly as they tend to lose muscle mass. Other measures like waist circumference may be more informative.
Q5: What's a healthy BMI for Asians?
A: For Asians, a BMI between 18.5-23 is considered healthy, with increased health risks starting at BMI ≥ 23 (compared to ≥ 25 for Caucasians).