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 Asian women, the normal range is considered to be 18.5-22.9 kg/m².

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 calculates body mass per unit of height squared, providing a standardized measure of body composition.

3. Importance of BMI for Asian Women

Details: Asian populations tend to have higher body fat percentages at lower BMIs compared to Caucasians. Therefore, the normal range for Asian women (18.5-22.9) is more conservative than the general population range (18.5-24.9).

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter weight in kilograms and height in meters. For accuracy, measure height without shoes and weight with minimal clothing.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: Why is the normal range different for Asian women?
A: Asian populations have different body composition and higher risk of metabolic diseases at lower BMIs compared to Caucasians.

Q2: What are the health risks of high BMI for Asian women?
A: Increased risk of type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease at lower BMI thresholds than other ethnic groups.

Q3: Is BMI accurate for all body types?
A: BMI doesn't distinguish between muscle and fat, so it may overestimate body fat in muscular individuals and underestimate in older people with less muscle mass.

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 body fat percentage provide additional useful information about health risks.