BMI as a weight measure

The body mass index (BMI) is calculated by dividing weight (in kilograms) by height (in meters) squared. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), normal body weight is between 18.5 and 24.9, overweight is between 25 and 29.9, and obesity starts at 30.

Limitations of BMI

Its limit: it does not distinguish between fat and muscle and says nothing about where the fat is stored. A study published in 2008 in the International Journal of Obesity, conducted on more than 13,600 American adults, showed that: among women, a BMI of 30 or more only identified about half of those who had an excess of body fat.

Other health indicators

Waist circumference is an often forgotten indicator. Fat stored around the abdomen, known as visceral fat, is linked to higher risks of heart disease and diabetes. Measuring the waist can provide more specific information about health risks than BMI alone.

Waist-to-height ratio

The waist-to-height ratio compares a person’s waist measurement to their height. A ratio of 0.5 or higher is considered a risk factor for health problems. This measure is easy to calculate and can be more accurate than BMI for assessing abdominal fat.