What does your BMI say about your health

BMI stands for Body Mass Index and represents the ratio of your weight to your height. BMI is used to determine whether you are underweight or overweight. While BMI is still widely used in the medical field and is considered reliable, does it apply to everyone?

BMI for everyone?

BMI is a calculation based on your height and body weight. It is a standard formula that you can use: BMI = Weight in kilograms (kg) divided by height in metres (m) squared. However, the BMI formula has no idea about your appearance or how much you exercise. 

The calculation generally provides a reasonably accurate indication unless you are extremely muscular. Muscles weigh more than fat, so if you are muscular, you may be heavier and could fall into the wrong BMI category. In such cases, alternative methods might be a better choice.

Other methods

You could also measure your body fat percentage, which quickly and clearly reveals your body composition. The circumference of your waist can also provide an indication of your health. There is a significant correlation between waist circumference and the amount of fat in the abdominal cavity. Accumulated fat in the abdominal cavity is a significant cause of obesity-related diseases such as heart attacks, strokes, and diabetes.

It is best to test using multiple methods to get the best indication of how your body is composed.