BMI calculator: Low, ideal or high body weight?
BMI calculation formula
The calculations is: the body mass divided by the square of the body height.
BMI = m/h²
m = body mass in kilograms
h = body height in metres
| < 18,5 | Underweight |
| 18,5 - 24,99 | Normal range |
| 25 - 29,99 | Overweight |
| 30 - 34,99 | Obese (Class I) |
| 35 - 39,99 | Obese (Class II) |
| > 40 | Obese (Class III) |
BMI index
BMI s tands for Body Mass Index. It tracks a person's nutritional status and gives an indicative view of body weight. It determines the degree of underweight, overweight or obesity.
A plus is that the result can be used to predict an individual's risk of health complications and negative factors.
The advantage of BMI is the speed of finding the result with minimum data required. Height and weight are mostly known by everyone.
However, it is not as accurate as other forms of measurement.
Why?
A high BMI of an athlete or a bodybuilder will show a high value that is not accurate. A person with a lot of muscle mass is not obese, even if his/her BMI result is above 30 points.
Of course, for the general population this is a handy, simple and yet quick way to determine the level of nutrition and possible health problems resulting from malnutrition or, conversely, overweight and obesity.
| Categorisation | Values/ class |
| Severe underweight | < 18,5 / low BMI |
| underweight (severe thinness) | < 16 |
| Underweight (moderate thinness) | 16 - 16,99 |
| Underweight (Mild thinness) | 17 - 18,49 |
| Normal range | 18,5 - 24,99 / normal BMI |
| Overweight | ≥ 25 / high BMI |
| Overweight (pre-obese) | 25 - 29,99 |
| Obese | ≥ 30 |
| Obese (Class I) | 30 - 34,99 |
| Obese (Class II) | 35 - 39,99 |
| Obese (Class III) | ≥40 |
