Body Mass Index: BMI
The best known measurement for determining obesity is the body mass index (BMI). It evaluates a person's body weight in relation to his or her height.
Body mass index (BMI) = body weight (kg) : (body height in m) ²
Example: You are 1.70 meters tall (5'6") and weigh 65 kilograms (143 pounds).
Your BMI is: 65 : (1.7 x 1.7) = 22.5
Classification and evaluation of weight groups
| Classification | BMI (kg/m²) | Risk of disease |
|---|---|---|
| Underweight | < 18.5 | heightened |
| Ideal weight | 18.5 – 25.0 | average |
| Overweight | 25.1 – 29.9 | heightened |
| Obesity Grade I | 30.0 – 34.9 | high |
| Obesity Grade II | 35.0 – 39.9 | very high |
| Obesity Grade III | above 40.0 | extremely high |
Please note that very athletic people can have a BMI of around 26 due to increased muscle mass. In this case, there is no excess weight.