The body mass index (BMI) or Quetelet index is a measure of
body fat based on height and the amount of tissue mass (muscle, fat and
bone) that applies to adult men and women and then categorize that
person as underweight, normal weight, overweight, or obese based on that
value.
A body mass index in the low range signals that you could be
malnourished. Maybe your body isn’t properly absorbing nutrients or
maybe you’re just not getting enough calories to support your activity
level.
Conversely, the higher your BMI, the higher the risk of developing a
range of conditions linked with excess weight, including: Diabetes,
arthritis, liver disease, several types of cancer (such as those of the
breast, colon, and prostate), high blood pressure (hypertension), high
cholesterol and sleep apnea.
Your doctor might set you up with a registered dietitian, who can help
you get your weight back on track and reduce your risk of developing
health problems.
World Health Organization's (WHO) recommended body weight based on BMI
values for adults. It is used for both men and women, age 18 or older.
Severe Thinness : < 16 kg/m2
Moderate Thinness : 16 – 17 kg/m2
Mild Thinness : 17 - 18.5 kg/m2
Normal : 18.5 – 25 kg/m2
Overweight : 25 – 30 kg/m2
Obese Class I : 30 – 35 kg/m2
Obese Class II : 35 – 40 kg/m2
Obese Class III : > 40 kg/m2
