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 Indian women, lower BMI cutoffs are used due to higher health risks at lower BMI levels compared to Western populations.

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-Specific BMI Cutoffs

Details: For Indian women, the following BMI categories apply:

• Underweight: BMI < 18.5 kg/m²
• Normal weight: 18.5-22.9 kg/m²
• Overweight: 23-27.4 kg/m²
• Obese: ≥27.5 kg/m²

These lower cutoffs reflect the higher risk of metabolic diseases at lower BMI levels in South Asian 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., 165 cm = 1.65 m).

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: Why different BMI cutoffs for Indians?
A: Indians have higher body fat percentage at lower BMI levels and greater risk for diabetes and heart disease at lower weights compared to Caucasians.

Q2: Is BMI accurate for muscular individuals?
A: No, BMI may overestimate body fat in muscular people as it doesn't distinguish between muscle and fat mass.

Q3: What's the ideal BMI for Indian women?
A: The healthy range is 18.5-22.9 kg/m², though individual factors like body composition should be considered.

Q4: Should pregnant women use this calculator?
A: No, BMI calculations during pregnancy are not accurate due to weight changes.

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