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 Filipinos and other Asian populations, lower BMI cutoffs are used as they have 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 composition.

3. Asian BMI Classification

Details: For Filipinos and other Asian populations, the following classifications are recommended:

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

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). All values must be valid (weight > 0, height > 0).

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

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

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

Q3: What's a healthy BMI for Filipinos?
A: The ideal range is 18.5-22.9 kg/m², though individual factors like muscle mass and body frame should be considered.

Q4: Should children use this calculator?
A: No, children and teens need age- and sex-specific BMI percentiles rather than these adult categories.

Q5: What other measurements complement BMI?
A: Waist circumference and waist-to-hip ratio provide additional information about fat distribution and health risks.