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 native Indian females, specific cutoff values are used that differ slightly from international standards.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the standard BMI formula:

Where:

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

Explanation: The formula divides a person's weight in kilograms by the square of their height in meters.

3. BMI Categories for Native Indian Females

Details: For native Indian females, the following BMI categories are recommended:

• 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

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 native Indian females?
A: Research shows that Indians have higher body fat percentage at lower BMI levels compared to Caucasians, hence the lower cutoff points.

Q2: Is BMI accurate for athletes?
A: BMI may overestimate body fat in athletes with high muscle mass and underestimate it in older people who have lost muscle mass.

Q3: What's the ideal BMI for native Indian women?
A: The healthy range is 18.5-22.9 kg/m², with the lowest mortality risk typically around 21-22 kg/m².

Q4: Should pregnant women use this calculator?
A: No, BMI calculations during pregnancy are not meaningful as weight gain is expected and necessary.

Q5: Are there better alternatives to BMI?
A: Waist circumference and waist-to-hip ratio may provide additional information about health risks, especially for Indians who tend to have more abdominal fat.