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. It is defined as weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared.

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 to estimate body fatness.

3. Asian BMI Categories

Details: Asian populations have different BMI cut-off points due to higher risk of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease at lower BMI levels compared to Caucasians.

Category	Asian BMI	Standard BMI
Underweight	<18.5	<18.5
Normal weight	18.5-22.9	18.5-24.9
Overweight	23-27.4	25-29.9
Obese	≥27.5	≥30

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter weight in kilograms, height in meters, and select ethnicity. All values must be valid (weight > 0, height > 0).

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: Why different categories for Asians?
A: Asians develop obesity-related health risks at lower BMI levels than Caucasians.

Q2: Is BMI accurate for athletes?
A: No, BMI may overestimate body fat in muscular individuals and underestimate it in older people with less muscle mass.

Q3: What's a healthy BMI range?
A: For Asians: 18.5-22.9; For others: 18.5-24.9.

Q4: Can BMI be used for children?
A: No, children's BMI should be assessed using age- and sex-specific percentiles.

Q5: What are alternatives to BMI?
A: Waist circumference, waist-to-hip ratio, or body fat percentage measurements may provide better assessment.