About BMI Chart Categories:

Body mass index (BMI) is a statistical (mathematical) measure of the weight of a person scaled according to height. It was invented between 1830 and 1850 by Belgian Adolphe Quetelet during the course of developing "social physics".

Body mass index is defined as an individual's body weight divided by the square of their height. The formula is universally used, but alone, it is not an accurate measure of health.

What Do the Results Mean for Adults?

For adults age 20 and older, the BMI calculator results are interpreted using standard weight status categories that are the same for all ages and for both men and women. The standard weight status categories associated with BMI ranges for adults are shown in the following table:

>=30.0	Obese
25.0 – 29.9	Overweight
18.5 – 24.9	Normal Weight
<18.5	Underweight

BMI Formula

BMI = Weight(kg)/(Height(cm)*Height(cm))

Health Risk Related to a High BMI

The reason the BMI is used for screening the health of the general population is due to the strong correlation between being overweight or obese and having health problems, chronic disease and premature death. People who are overweight or obese have an increased risk for the following health conditions:

• Hypertension
• Type 2 diabetes
• Coronary heart disease
• Stroke
• Osteoarthritis
• Some cancers
• Sleep apnea and respiratory problems