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. It is defined as the weight in kilograms divided by the square of the height in meters.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the standard BMI formula:

Where:

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

Explanation: The formula calculates body mass per unit of height squared, providing a standardized measure of body composition.

3. Asian-Specific BMI Categories

Details: Asian populations have different associations between BMI, body fat percentage, and health risks compared to Caucasian populations. Therefore, lower BMI thresholds are used:

• 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 in centimeters, divide by 100 (e.g., 170 cm = 1.7 m). All values must be positive numbers.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: Why are BMI categories different for Asians?
A: Asians generally have higher body fat percentage at lower BMI levels compared to Caucasians, increasing health risks at lower thresholds.

Q2: Is BMI accurate for everyone?
A: BMI is a screening tool but doesn't directly measure body fat. It may misclassify muscular individuals as overweight or fail to detect excess fat in some individuals.

Q3: What's a healthy BMI for Asian women?
A: The ideal range is 18.5-22.9 kg/m², though individual factors like muscle mass and fat distribution should be considered.

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: More precise measures include waist circumference, waist-to-hip ratio, or body fat percentage, but BMI remains widely used for its simplicity.