BMI, or Body Mass Index, is a measurement of body fat based on height and weight that applies to both men and women between the ages of 18 and 65 years. BMI is not a direct measure of body fat. However, BMI is considered a reliable indicator of body fatness for most people. A high BMI can be an indication of high body fatness. A low BMI can be an indication of low body fatness.
BMI provides a reasonable estimate of body fat for most people and is used as a screening tool by healthcare providers to identify potential weight-related health risks. However, BMI has some limitations:
-It may overestimate body fat in athletes and other people who have large muscles or bones.
-It may underestimate body fat in older adults and others who have lost muscle mass.
-BMI does not measure directly percentbody fat.
For these reasons, other measures such as skinfold thickness measurements or underwater weighing may be needed to more accurately assess certain populations for risk of overweight- or obesity-related health conditions..
Despite its limitations, BMI is the best population-level measure we have available for assessing overweight and obesity at the individual level.. Researchers have found that higher BMIs are associated with increased risk for many diseases including: heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes; several types of cancer (endometrial, gallbladder, kidney, ovarian); sleep apnea; osteoarthritis; fatty liver disease; pregnancy complications; and more.. In general, the higher your BMI, the greater your risk for developing these conditions.. Even small decreases in weight (5%–10%of your current weight) can decrease your risk for these diseases.. If you are obese (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2), losing just 5%–10%of your weight can improve your health.. For example, this could mean losing 5 kg if you currently weigh 80 kg.. Losing 10 kg would mean going from 80 kgto 72 kgor from 100 kgto 90 kg