Body Mass Index (BMI) - calculation, classification and significance

The BMI (Body Mass Index) calculates body weight in relation to height. Find out how to calculate your BMI using the formula, which values are healthy and the limits of the index.

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The Body Mass Index (BMI) is a simple and widely used method for assessing body weight in relation to height.

The Body Mass Index (BMI) is a widely used method for estimating body weight in relation to height. It serves as a simple indicator for classifying underweight, normal weight, overweight and obesity and can help to assess potential health risks. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has defined official BMI categories that provide an initial guide to weight assessment.

The BMI formula is: BMI = body weight (kg) / height (m²)

Example: A person with a body weight of 75 kg and a height of 1.75 m has a BMI of 24.5.

BMI classification according to WHO:

Underweight: BMI < 18.5
Normal weight: BMI 18.5 - 24.9
Overweight: BMI 25 - 29.9
Grade 1 obesity: BMI 30 - 34.9
Grade 2 obesity: BMI 35 - 39.9
Grade 3 obesity (severely overweight): BMI ≥ 40

Although BMI is a simple calculation method, it has limitations as it does not take into account body composition. A high BMI may be caused by muscle mass rather than body fat, which is why additional measurement methods such as body fat percentage, waist-to-hip ratio or bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) may be useful to better assess the actual health risk.

The assessment of BMI should therefore always be considered in the overall context of other health factors. A supplementary analysis is particularly recommended for athletes, older people or people with different fat and muscle distributions.

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