Understanding Your Body Mass Index (BMI)
A deep dive into what BMI means, how it's calculated, and what it can (and can't) tell you about your health.
Published on 10/26/2024
The Body Mass Index (BMI) is a measure that uses your height and weight to work out if your weight is healthy.
The BMI calculation divides an adult's weight in kilograms by their height in metres squared. For example, A BMI of 25 means 25kg/m2.
BMI ranges
For most adults, an ideal BMI is in the 18.5 to 24.9 range.
- Below 18.5 – you're in the underweight range
- Between 18.5 and 24.9 – you're in the healthy weight range
- Between 25 and 29.9 – you're in the overweight range
- Between 30 and 39.9 – you're in the obese range
It’s important to remember that BMI is a simplified measure and doesn't account for factors like muscle mass, body composition, or ethnicity.