1. What is BMI for Asian/Filipino People?

Body Mass Index (BMI) is a measure of body fat based on height and weight. For Asian and Filipino populations, lower BMI cutoffs are used because these populations tend to have higher body fat percentages at lower BMI values compared to Caucasians.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the standard BMI formula with Asian-specific classifications:

Asian/Filipino Classification:

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

3. Importance of BMI Calculation

Details: BMI is a simple screening tool for weight categories that may lead to health problems. For Asian populations, the risks of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease begin at lower BMI levels than in Caucasian 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 people?
A: Asian populations tend to have higher body fat percentages at lower BMIs and develop obesity-related diseases at lower BMI levels.

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 the difference from standard BMI?
A: Standard classification considers overweight as >25 and obese as >30, while Asian classification lowers these thresholds.

Q4: Are there better measures than BMI?
A: Waist circumference and waist-to-hip ratio provide additional information about fat distribution.

Q5: Should children use this calculator?
A: No, children need age- and sex-specific BMI percentile charts for accurate assessment.