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 South Asian women, the cutoff points are adjusted to account for higher health risks at lower BMI levels.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the standard BMI formula with adjusted categories for South Asian women:

South Asian BMI Categories for Women:

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

3. Importance of BMI Calculation

Details: BMI is an important screening tool for weight categories that may lead to health problems. For South Asian women, health risks increase at lower BMI levels compared to Caucasian populations.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter weight in kilograms and height in meters. For example, 165 cm should be entered as 1.65. All values must be valid (weight > 0, height > 0).

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: Why different BMI cutoffs for South Asian women?
A: South Asians have higher body fat percentage at lower BMI levels and greater risk of metabolic diseases at lower weights compared to Caucasians.

Q2: Is BMI accurate for all body types?
A: BMI doesn't distinguish between muscle and fat. Athletes may have high BMI without excess fat, while some may have normal BMI but high body fat.

Q3: What's the ideal BMI for Indian women?
A: For Indian women, maintaining BMI between 18.5-22.9 kg/m² is generally recommended for optimal health.

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

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