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 and Filipino populations, 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 body mass per unit of height squared, providing a standardized measure of body fatness.

3. Asian/Filipino BMI Cutoffs

Details: For Asian and Filipino men, the following adjusted categories are used:

• Underweight: <18.5 kg/m²
• Normal weight: 18.5-23 kg/m²
• Overweight: >23-25 kg/m²
• Obese: >25 kg/m²

These lower cutoffs reflect the higher risk of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease at lower BMI levels in these 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).

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: Why different cutoffs for Asian/Filipino men?
A: Asian populations have higher body fat percentage at lower BMI levels and greater risk of metabolic diseases at lower BMI compared to Caucasians.

Q2: Is BMI accurate for muscular individuals?
A: BMI may overestimate body fat in muscular people as it doesn't distinguish between muscle and fat mass.

Q3: What are the limitations of BMI?
A: BMI doesn't account for fat distribution, muscle mass, bone density, or ethnic differences in body composition.

Q4: Should elderly use the same BMI ranges?
A: Older adults may have different healthy ranges due to age-related muscle loss. Consult a healthcare provider.

Q5: What's better than BMI for health assessment?
A: Waist circumference, waist-to-hip ratio, or body fat percentage measurements may provide more accurate health risk assessment.