PLUS SIZE & HIGH BMI PATIENTS
BMI Chart:
What Does It Say About Your Weight?
Interested to know if you're within a healthy weight range?
Don't forget to check our BMI calculator and chart to know more.
Obesity is a health problem that affects around 30% of both adults and children all over the world*.
And one of the quickest ways to figure out if you’re suffering from it is by using a BMI chart, otherwise known as a BMI scale. It shows you the BMI healthy range at a glance.
Body mass index measures your body fat based on your height and weight. It can be applied to people of all ages and sex, making it a handy tool for determining one’s level of health, weight-wise. As such, the BMI scale is also an excellent way to measure your risk of obesity.
Once you’re aware of your BMI range, you can tweak your lifestyle to avoid obesity-related problems, such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and certain cancers, among others.
What is the BMI Chart?
Computing your BMI is easy, as you can make use of a BMI calculator to instantly get your numbers.
But your BMI score by itself doesn’t say anything. It is only with the help of a BMI weight chart that you get to interpret what your score really means.
This tool is used hand-in-hand with the BMI calculator to know which weight category you’re in. The National Institute of Health uses it to help you figure out your ideal weight.
The BMI weight chart has been used since the 1970s to measure and predict obesity. After all, BMI measurements are said to help people recognize early on whether or not they have a weight problem.
Are You Within the BMI Healthy Range?
Interpreting the BMI scale is pretty easy.
Once you have computed your body mass index, you should look at the chart to know if you are within the BMI healthy range.
- Underweight – Less than 18.5
- BMI normal range – 18.5 to 24.9
- Overweight – 25 to 29.9
- Obese – 30 or higher
A BMI chart is a visual representation of these categories, providing a quick reference for individuals to determine their weight status based on their BMI. The chart typically has the BMI values on one axis and corresponding weight status categories on the other.
The BMI scale is used by healthcare professionals, researchers, and individuals to assess body weight and its potential health implications. While BMI is a useful screening tool, it does not directly measure body fat and may not account for variations in muscle mass, bone density, and distribution of fat. Therefore, it is often used in conjunction with other assessments for a more comprehensive understanding of an individual’s health.
Reminders in Using the BMI Scale
Despite being easy to use, you have to remember that the body weight chart has its limitations, too.
For one, it can overestimate the body fat for people with muscular builds, making it an inaccurate measure for athletes and bodybuilders. BMI can also underestimate body fat in older adults who lose muscle mass.
Besides your BMI, other indicators of healthy weight include your skinfold thickness, waist circumference, cholesterol and blood sugar levels, and personal and family diet history.
It’s important to note that BMI has limitations and should not be the sole determinant of one’s health. Factors such as age, gender, muscle mass, and distribution of fat also play a role in overall health. Consulting with a healthcare professional for a personalized assessment is recommended.
I do not use BMI as a sole criterion in determining one's candidacy for surgery.
As all patients have individualized goals and surgical nuances, a high BMI should not prevent them from achieving their plastic surgery goals.
Nick Masri MD
Double Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon