A frequently used index to categorize a person's body weight is called the body mass index, or BMI. This assessment compares your body weight to your height to come up with a value that indicates whether you are underweight, normal weight, overweight, or obese. Although BMI is often used as an indicator of body composition (i.e., the ratio of fat mass to lean mass), it does not take into account body fat and can only be used as a method to evaluate body weight.

The following formula is used to calculate Body Mass Index:

BMI = Weight (kg) / (Height (m)²)

Knowing a client's BMI can give you a quick indication of his or her risk for weight-related health concerns. For example, those with a BMI >30 are classified as obese, which can lead to a number of diseases such heart disease, type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and stroke. BMI can also be used in determining a client’s cardiovascular risk classification. When completing a preparticipation health-screening process, an individual who has a BMI >30 has a positive risk factor associated with CVD. This can put the individual at a higher risk for a cardiac event during moderate to vigorous exercise. For those with overweight or obesity, losing weight can have a profound positive effect on overall health.

The table below provides established BMI norms based on various categories of health and fitness.

For most people, BMI is a quick and easy way to categorize body weight, which is why it’s so commonly used. However, since body weight—not percent body fat--is used in determining BMI, it may not be the best way to assess those who are heavily muscled (such as body builders) or who have an athletic body type. Because muscle weighs more than fat, those who have well-developed muscles typically appear overweight or obese according to the BMI reference chart. We do not recommend using BMI as the only method to categorize body weight or health risk for those with an athletic of muscular build. An estimation of body fat using the skinfold method would be a more accurate choice.