What Is Your Body Mass Index?

Body Mass Index (BMI) is one of the best ways to measure the point at which extra pounds can become health risks. BMI takes into account an adult’s height and weight in order to gauge total body fat. A BMI of 30 or higher is considered obese. The higher the BMI, the greater the risk of developing additional health problems.

Illnesses such as heart disease, diabetes and high blood pressure are all linked to being overweight. A BMI greater than 30 increases the risk of death from any cause, by as much as 50 to 150 percent. A BMI of 24 or less is considered in the normal range. Individuals who fall into the BMI range of 25 to 34.9, and who have a waist measurement of over 40 inches for men and 35 inches for women, are considered to be at especially high risk for health problems.