BMI is a statistical calculation intended as an
assessment tool. It can be applied to groups of people
to determine trends or it can be applied to individuals.
When applied to individuals, it is only one of several
assessments used to determine health risks related to
being underweight, overweight, or obese.
Interpreting BMI calculations for adults
All adults age 20 and older are evaluated on the
same BMI scale as follows:
-BMI below 18.5: Underweight
-BMI 18.5–24.9: Normal weight
-BMI 25.0–29.9: Overweight
-BMI 30 and above: Obese
Some researchers consider a BMI of 17 or below
an indication of serious, health-threatening malnourishment.
In developed countries, a BMI this low in the
absence of disease is often an indication anorexia
nervosa.
At the other end of the scale, a BMI of 40
or greater indicates morbid obesity that carries a very
high risk of developing obesity-related diseases such as
stroke, heart attack, and type 2 diabetes.
Interpreting BMI calculations for children and teens
