When calculating a person's
body mass index (BMI), two pieces of information are required: height and weight. This is an inexpensive and easy-to-use screening method for weight categories that can lead to health problems such as
diabetes,
stroke, and
heart disease. A normal BMI ranges from 18.5 to 24.9. Anything from 25.5 to 29.9 is overweight, and a reading of 30.0 and higher is considered obese.
However, just because a person has a "high" BMI, this does not necessarily mean that he or she is overweight. BMI is just one factor used to assess a person's weight. According to recent guidelines, assessment of weight involves three key measures:
- BMI
- Waist circumference
- Risk factors for diseases and conditions associated with obesity.
(Click BMI for more info on this topic, including specific tools to calculate it, how the results are interpreted, and other medical conditions that being overweight or obese can cause.)
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