Below are the BMI ranges
for interpreting your own BMI results.
Generally speaking, the higher your BMI is, the greater your risk of developing
health problems related to weight such as heart disease, diabetes, and
cancer.
BMI of 18 and under: You may be underweight for your height.
Health-related reasons for underweight could be smoking habits or poor
nutrition. Women who become severely underweight may stop having their
menstrual period and become infertile.
BMI of 19 to 24: This range is considered to be the "healthy
weight" range. People who have a BMI within this range generally have
a low risk for developing weight-related health problems.
BMI of 25 to 29: This range is considered to be the "overweight"
range. People who have a BMI within this range have a moderate risk for
developing weight-related health problems.
BMI of 30 and over: This range is considered to be the "obese"
range. People who have a BMI within this range have a high risk for developing
weight-related health problems.
A Few Things to Remember About BMI:
Remember that your BMI is only one way of assessing your general health
and risk for disease. A complete picture of your health risks depends
on a variety of other factors, such as your family health history and
your occupation.
Also, keep in mind that BMI does not measure your body composition - how
much fat and muscle you have. So a person who has a lot of muscle, like
a professional bodybuilder, may be "overweight" by BMI standards but not
at risk for weight-related health problems. |
