Making Sense of Your BMI Results
BMI serves as a screening tool rather than a diagnostic measure. The results from our calculator provide a starting point for understanding your weight status, but interpreting these numbers properly requires additional context.
BMI Categories and Their Implications
Getting More Accurate Results
- Measure your height accurately – Stand against a wall without shoes, keep your head level and eyes forward
- Weigh yourself consistently – Same time of day, similar clothing, same scale
- Use multiple measurements – Track your BMI over time rather than relying on a single calculation
- Enter precise values – Small measurement errors can impact results, especially at boundary values
When BMI Doesn’t Tell the Full Story
BMI calculations have several notable limitations:
Body Composition Not Considered
BMI doesn’t distinguish between muscle and fat. Athletes with high muscle mass often register as “overweight” despite having low body fat percentages.
Age and Gender Differences
Men typically have higher muscle mass than women of the same BMI. Older adults naturally experience changes in body composition that BMI doesn’t account for.
Ethnic Variations
Different ethnic groups may have different body compositions at the same BMI. For example, Asian populations often have higher body fat percentages at lower BMIs.
Fat Distribution Patterns
Where you carry weight matters significantly. Central obesity (belly fat) poses greater health risks than fat distributed in other areas.
Better Metrics to Use With BMI
Measures abdominal fat, which is linked to higher disease risk.
High Risk Thresholds:
Women: > 35 inches (88 cm)
Men: > 40 inches (102 cm)
Divides waist measurement by height. Simple yet effective predictor of health risks.
Target: Keep your waist circumference to less than half your height.
Directly measures fat versus lean mass using methods like bioelectrical impedance.
Healthy Ranges:
Women: 21-33%
Men: 8-19%