BMI stands for Body Mass Index, a measurement used to determine if a person's weight is within a healthy range based on their height.
BMI Index Range | Weight Status |
---|---|
Less than 18.5 | Underweight |
18.5 to 24.9 | Normal weight |
25.0 to 29.9 | Overweight |
30.0 and above | Obese |
Note: The World Health Organization (WHO) provides different BMI categories for men and women based on the same BMI values. According to the WHO, a BMI of 18.5-24.9 is considered a healthy weight range for both men and women. However, a BMI of 25-29.9 is classified as overweight for men, while a BMI of 25-29.9 is classified as pre-obese for women. This reflects that women tend to have a higher percentage of body fat than men and may be at increased risk for certain health conditions at lower BMI levels.