Your age, muscle mass, body fat, activity level, and sex all influence your BMI and should be considered when assessing your health. BMI is only an estimate, and it does not take those other important factors into account-such as the distribution of muscle, bone mass, and fat.įor adults, BMI lacks accuracy when used on its own because it is a measure of weight, not fat. BMI LimitationsĮven though BMI is a useful indicator of health, it is a very general measure and should be used alongside other assessments to gain a fuller picture of a person’s health. It is important to speak with your doctor if you have an abnormally low BMI so that they can check for other health issues and determine a feasible way for you to start gaining weight. Hormonal imbalances and irregular menstrual cycles in womenīeing underweight can sometimes be a sign of an underlying health condition.Developmental issues in children and teens.Bone weakness and breaks caused by osteoporosis.

Just as there are risks associated with your BMI being too high, there are risks associated with it being too low. Maintaining a healthy BMI should not be interpreted as keeping your BMI as low as possible. If your BMI is higher than you’d like to see, you should work with your doctor to determine if you have any other health issues so you can find a realistic and feasible weight loss plan. Losing weight is challenging, but it is entirely worth the effort required to increase the quality of life and improve overall health. Keeping your BMI at or below 25 kg/m2 can help you avoid the above risks. Elevated triglycerides, also known as 'bad' cholesterol.Risks associated with being overweight include: If your BMI indicates that you are overweight, you may be at risk of developing certain health conditions. At or above the 85th percentile but below the 95th percentile: Overweight.Equal to or greater than the 5th percentile and less than the 85th percentile: Normal weight.Normal BMI ranges for children are found below: Healthy BMI ranges for children depend on where your child falls on the growth chart. What Is a Healthy BMI?įor adults over the age of 20, BMI ranges are as follows:( 1) Since being over- or underweight can have significant health effects, knowing your BMI is important. It is a useful indicator to determine if you need to lose or gain weight. BMI is a generic measurement intended to be used with other factors to offer information about your health. Healthy BMI ranges vary depending on your age. It helps you understand if you are overweight, underweight, or at a healthy weight. Generally, BMI is used to determine if you have a healthy body weight for your height.( 2) BMI is intended to determine tissue mass.

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