1. What is BMI for Asian Women?

Body Mass Index (BMI) is a measure of body fat based on height and weight that applies to adult men and women. For Asian populations, lower BMI cutoffs are used due to higher health risks at lower BMI levels compared to Caucasians.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the standard BMI formula with Asian-specific cutoffs:

Asian-specific classifications:

• Underweight: BMI < 18.5 kg/m²
• Normal weight: BMI 18.5-23 kg/m²
• Overweight: BMI >23-25 kg/m²
• Obese: BMI >25 kg/m²

3. Importance of BMI Calculation

Details: BMI is a simple screening tool for weight categories that may lead to health problems. For Asian women, the risks of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease increase at lower BMI levels than in Caucasian 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 cutoffs for Asians?
A: Asian populations have higher body fat percentages at lower BMIs and develop obesity-related diseases at lower BMI levels.

Q2: Is BMI accurate for everyone?
A: BMI doesn't distinguish between muscle and fat. Athletes may have high BMI without excess fat, while elderly may have normal BMI but low muscle mass.

Q3: What's a healthy BMI range for Asian women?
A: The ideal range is 18.5-23 kg/m², with increased health risks above 23 kg/m².

Q4: Should pregnant women use this calculator?
A: No, BMI calculations during pregnancy aren't meaningful due to weight gain from the fetus and related changes.

Q5: What other measures complement BMI?
A: Waist circumference and body fat percentage provide additional information about health risks.