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 the Asia-Pacific population, lower BMI cutoffs 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 your body mass relative to your height squared, providing a standardized measure of body composition.

3. Asia-Pacific BMI Categories

Categories:

• <18.5 kg/m² — Underweight
• 18.5-22.9 kg/m² — Normal weight
• 23-24.9 kg/m² — Overweight (increased risk)
• 25-29.9 kg/m² — Overweight (moderate risk)
• ≥30 kg/m² — Obese (high risk)

Note: These cutoffs are lower than WHO standards because Asians develop obesity-related diseases at lower BMI levels.

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., 175 cm = 1.75 m).

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: Why are Asia-Pacific BMI cutoffs different?
A: Asian populations have higher body fat percentages at lower BMIs and develop metabolic complications at lower BMI levels.

Q2: Is BMI accurate for athletes?
A: No, BMI may overestimate body fat in muscular individuals as it doesn't distinguish between muscle and fat mass.

Q3: What's the ideal BMI for Asians?
A: The healthy range is 18.5-22.9 kg/m², with optimal around 21-22 kg/m².

Q4: Should children use this calculator?
A: No, children require age- and sex-specific BMI percentile charts.

Q5: What are the limitations of BMI?
A: BMI doesn't account for fat distribution, muscle mass, bone density, or ethnic variations in body composition.