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 Asia Pacific women, specific cutoff points are used that differ from standard international classifications.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the standard BMI formula:

Where:

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

Asia Pacific Women Classification:

• Underweight: BMI < 18.5 kg/m²
• Normal weight: BMI 18.5-22.9 kg/m²
• Overweight: BMI 23-27.4 kg/m²
• Obese: BMI ≥ 27.5 kg/m²

3. Asia Pacific Women Specifics

Details: Asian populations generally have higher body fat percentages at lower BMI levels compared to Caucasians. This calculator uses modified cutoff points recommended by the WHO for Asia Pacific 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., 165 cm = 1.65 m).

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: Why different cutoff points for Asia Pacific women?
A: Asian populations tend to have higher body fat percentages at lower BMI levels and higher risk of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease at lower BMI levels compared to Caucasians.

Q2: Is BMI accurate for muscular individuals?
A: BMI may overestimate body fat in muscular individuals and underestimate it in older people who have lost muscle mass.

Q3: What is a healthy BMI range for Asia Pacific women?
A: The healthy range is 18.5-22.9 kg/m², with increased health risks above 23 kg/m².

Q4: Should pregnant women use this calculator?
A: No, BMI calculations are not appropriate during pregnancy as weight gain is expected and necessary.

Q5: Are there better measures than BMI?
A: Waist circumference and waist-to-hip ratio may provide additional information about health risks related to body fat distribution.