What is Body Mass Index (BMI)?
BMI is a measure of body fat based on height and weight that applies to adult men and women. It is widely used as a general indicator of whether a person has a healthy body weight for their height.
Intelligence Insight: While BMI is a useful screening tool, it does not directly measure body fat or account for muscle mass. Athletes often have a high BMI due to increased muscle, not fat.
BMI Categories
- Underweight: < 18.5
- Normal weight: 18.5 - 24.9
- Overweight: 25 - 29.9
- Obese: 30 or greater