Is my BMI normal?

BMI: simple but useful

Body Mass Index = weight (kg) / height (m)². Developed by Adolphe Quetelet in 1832. While imperfect (doesn't distinguish muscle from fat), it remains the most widely used screening tool.

WHO BMI categories

• Under 18.5: Underweight
• 18.5–24.9: Normal weight
• 25.0–29.9: Overweight
• 30.0+: Obese

BMI limitations

• Athletes with high muscle mass often have "overweight" BMI despite low body fat
• BMI doesn't account for body composition, age, or ethnicity
• Waist circumference is a better predictor of health risks than BMI alone
• The "normal" range was set using mostly white European data

Sources: WHO (2000, BMI Classification), CDC, Flegal et al. (2013, JAMA), NCD Risk Factor Collaboration (2024).