Body mass index (BMI) measures the relationship between your weight and your height. Although this tool has been embraced internationally as an assessment tool for health risks, based on recommendations of the World Health Organization, it has its limitations. For example, if you carry excess weight for your height, your BMI number will not indicate whether the excess weight consist of lean muscle mass or fat mass; therefore, the health risks associated with your BMI may be underestimated or overestimated. This is why a BMI assessment should be part a comprehensive health assessment. It will not accurately calculate your health risks if you are:

  • a muscular athlete
  • under age 18 and have not reached full growth
  • a pregnant or lactating woman
  • over the age of 65 years
Weight category BMI (kg/m2)
Cut-off points Risks for health disease
Underweight < 18.50 increased
Severe thinness < 16.00
Moderate thinness 16.00 – 16.99
Mild thinness 17.00 – 18.49
Normal Range 18.50 – 24.99
Overweight ≥ 25.00
Pre-obese 25.00 – 29.00 increased
Obese ≥ 30.00
Obese class I 30.00 – 34.99 high
Obese class II 35.00 – 39.99 Very high
Obese class III ≥ 40.00 Extremely high

Your waist circumference will provide additional information regarding exposure to health risks. A circumference higher than 88cm (35 inches) for women and 102 cm (40 inches) for men will put you at risk. However, if your waist circumference is lower than those cut-off points, you are not off the hook if your BMI exceeds 25kg/m2. Similarly, you may be at risk for health disease if your waist circumference exceeds the cut-off points even if you are of normal weight.

Women Men
88 cm (35 inches) 102 cm (40 inches)

Click here to learn how to measure your waist accurately.

Click here if you would like to read more about BMI from Health Canada.

Contact Us to start your weight management plan.

References

  1. World Health Organization. (1995). Physical status: The use and interpretation of anthropometry. Report of a WHO Expert Committee. WHO Technical Report Series 854. Geneva, Switzerland: World Health Organization.
  2. WHO expert consultation. (2004). Appropriate body-mass index for Asian populations and its implications for policy and intervention strategies. The Lancet, 363(9403), 157-163.