1. What is BMI?

Body Mass Index (BMI) is a simple index of weight-for-height that is commonly used to classify underweight, overweight and obesity in adults. For Indian population, the cutoff values are lower than international standards due to higher body fat percentage at lower BMI levels.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the standard BMI formula:

Where:

• \( weight \) — Body weight in kilograms
• \( height \) — Height in meters

3. Indian BMI Categories

Indian-specific BMI categories:

• < 18.5 kg/m² — Underweight
• 18.5-22.9 kg/m² — Normal weight
• 23-24.9 kg/m² — Overweight (At risk)
• 25-29.9 kg/m² — Overweight (Moderately obese)
• ≥ 30 kg/m² — Overweight (Severely obese)

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter weight in kilograms, 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 are Indian BMI cutoffs different?
A: Indians have higher body fat percentage at lower BMI levels compared to Caucasians, leading to higher health risks at lower BMI values.

Q2: Is BMI accurate for athletes?
A: No, 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 Indians?
A: For Indians, the ideal range is 18.5-22.9 kg/m², with increased health risks above 23 kg/m².

Q4: Should children use this calculator?
A: No, children and teens need age- and sex-specific BMI percentile charts.

Q5: What are alternatives to BMI?
A: Waist circumference, waist-to-hip ratio, and body fat percentage measurements provide additional information.