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 a person's weight in kilograms divided by the square of their height in meters (kg/m²).

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the standard BMI formula:

Ethnicity Adjustments:

• For Asians/South Asians: Lower BMI cutoffs are used (23 for overweight, 27.5 for obese)
• For other ethnicities: Standard WHO cutoffs are used (25 for overweight, 30 for obese)

3. Importance of Ethnicity Adjustment

Details: Research shows that Asian populations have higher health risks at lower BMI levels compared to Caucasians. This calculator accounts for these differences by applying ethnicity-specific cutoffs.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter weight in kilograms and height in meters. Select your ethnicity for appropriate classification. All values must be valid (weight > 0, height > 0).

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: Why different cutoffs for Asians?
A: Asians tend to have higher body fat percentage at lower BMI levels and higher risk of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease at lower BMI.

Q2: What are the standard BMI categories?
A: For most ethnicities: Underweight (<18.5), Normal (18.5-24.9), Overweight (25-29.9), Obese (≥30). For Asians: Overweight starts at 23, Obese at 27.5.

Q3: What are limitations of BMI?
A: Doesn't distinguish between muscle and fat mass. May misclassify muscular individuals as overweight or athletes as obese.

Q4: Should BMI be used alone for health assessment?
A: No, it should be used alongside other measures like waist circumference, body fat percentage, and overall health assessment.

Q5: Is BMI accurate for all ethnic groups?
A: While useful as a screening tool, some ethnic groups may need additional assessment methods as BMI may not fully capture their health risks.