Why are BMIs useful ?

Calculate your BMI

Make use of our BMI calculator to get a snapshot of how healthy your weight is in relation to height.

Body Mass Index ( BMI) is a measure of your weight relative to your height. It could be a helpful indicator to determine whether your weight is above, below or within the normal range. Use our BMI Calculator tool to find out how health your weight is in relation to your height.https://www.medibank.com.au/content/dam/livebetter/en/calculators/bmi.html

What are the implications of the results?

BMI Chart for Australia

BMI Range	Category
Below 18.5	Underweight
18.5 - 24.9	Healthy weight
25.0 - 29.9	Overweight
30.0 and above	Obese

If your BMI falls between 18.5 and 24.9, it indicates you're in those within the healthy body weight band.

Source: The World Health Organization

Two adults of the same height are not likely to weigh the same amount. This is due to the fact that body weight depends on factors such as bone structure (small or medium frame) and the proportion of body fat when compared with denser muscle.

Body Mass Index ( BMI) assesses your weight in relation to your height and can provide a valuable indicator to determine whether your weight is in the middle, above or below the healthy range.

BMI is calculated by:

• Divide the weight(kg) by your height(m)
• Dividing the result by your height(m) once more to determine your BMI

If your BMI exceeds 25 you're into the overweight category. If you are overweight and your weight goes beyond the healthy limit, elevated body fat levels are associated with a higher chance of developing health problems such as excessive blood pressure high LDL cholesterol levels, type 2 diabetes, coronary heart disease, stroke, and various cancers. A BMI that is lower than 18.5 is considered to be overweight and, if the lower body weight is the consequence of a restricted diet and a deficient intake of nutrients is probable.

Is it always accurate? It's essential to recognize that BMI is just a indication of a healthy weight range and risk of health in adults. It does not always reveal the full picture. Individuals with higher amounts of muscle, including body builders and athletes may be incorrectly classified as overweight. In the same way, people with small frames and lower amounts of muscle mass, for instance, people who are older and certain ethnic groups, could be classified as a healthy weight despite having more weight than their body type. BMI can be a better indicator of your health when paired with the Waist Hip Ratio, which measures the place where body fat is spread.