Calculating your BMI gives you insight into your weight relative to your height. It helps determine if you are underweight, have a healthy weight, or are overweight or obese, which can guide health decisions and help prevent health risks like cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and joint issues.

You calculate BMI by dividing your weight in kilograms by your height in meters squared. For example: 80 kg / (1.80 × 1.80) = 24.7.

A BMI between 18.5 and 24.9 is considered healthy. Below 18.5 is underweight. Between 25 and 29.9 is overweight. 30 or above is obese.

BMI is less accurate for people with high muscle mass, pregnant or breastfeeding women, people with very short or tall stature, people of Asian descent, or those over 70 years old.

No. BMI doesn’t consider muscle mass, body fat percentage, or body type. Someone very muscular may have a high BMI but not be overweight. Likewise, a low BMI might hide poor muscle mass or deficiencies. It’s a general indicator, not a complete health measure.

Generally, women have slightly higher BMIs due to higher fat percentages. Muscle weighs more than fat, so men often have lower BMIs despite similar body sizes.