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 females, the BMI categories are adjusted to account for 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

For Indian Females: The calculator uses modified BMI categories that are more appropriate for South Asian populations who tend to have higher body fat percentages at lower BMIs.

3. Importance of BMI for Indian Females

Details: Indian women tend to have higher body fat percentage at lower BMI levels compared to Caucasians. This calculator uses BMI cut-offs recommended for Asian Indian populations by the WHO.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter weight in kilograms and height in meters. For height in centimeters, divide by 100 (e.g., 165 cm = 1.65 m). All values must be valid (weight > 0, height > 0).

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: Why different BMI categories for Indian females?
A: Research shows Indian women have higher body fat percentage and increased metabolic risks at lower BMI levels compared to Western populations.

Q2: What are the BMI categories for Indian females?
A: Underweight (<18.5), Normal (18.5-22.9), Overweight (23-27.4), Obese (≥27.5) - as per ICMR guidelines.

Q3: Is BMI accurate for muscular individuals?
A: BMI may overestimate body fat in muscular people and underestimate it in older people with less muscle mass.

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

Q5: What's a healthy BMI range for Indian women?
A: 18.5 to 22.9 kg/m² is considered healthy, with increased health risks above 23 kg/m².