BMI, or body mass index, is a simple and widely used method for estimating body fat and is calculated by dividing the subject's weight by the square of his or her height,

A poor BMI affects your health AND premiums!

• Metric Units:
  BMI = Weight (kg) / [Height (m)]² - Where 'kg' is the subject's weight in kilograms and 'm' is the subject's height in metres.

• Customary Units: :
  ( Weight (lb) / [Height (in)]² ) x 703 - Where 'lb' is the subject's weight in pounds and 'in' is the subject's height in inches.

The current definitions commonly in use establish the following values as agreed in 1997 and published in 2000...

BMI less than 18.5 is underweight

BMI of 18.5–24.9 is normal weight

BMI of 25.0–29.9 is overweight

BMI of 30.0–39.9 is obese

BMI of 40.0 or higher is severely (or morbidly) obese

BMI of 35.0 or higher in the presence of at least one other significant comorbidity is also classified by some bodies as morbid obesity.

NOTES.

In a clinical setting, physicians take into account race, ethnicity, lean mass (muscularity), age, sex, and other factors which can affect the interpretation of BMI.

BMI overestimates body fat in persons who are very muscular, and it can underestimate body fat in persons who have lost body mass (e.g. many elderly).

Mild obesity as defined by BMI alone is not a cardiac risk factor, and hence BMI cannot be used as a sole clinical and epidemiological predictor of cardiovascular health.

IF IN ANY DOUBT - CONSULT A PHYSICIAN.