Adult Body Mass Index (BMI)
in U.S. Customary Measurements

What is Body Mass Index?

Body Mass Index (BMI) is a screening method for measuring and categorizing weight for adults and is the most commonly used method for estimating body fat levels. The four main categories are: Underweight, Normal Weight, Overweight, and Obesity. Obesity is further subdivided into three segments:
Class One = 30-35, Class Two = 35-40, Class Three = 40+
Class two & three are considered bariatric levels, and should be closely monitored by a general practitioner (GP).

The BMI formula, however, does not take into consideration age or gender, nor is it a completely accurate measurement for persons with extraordinarily high or low levels of lean muscle mass. BMI is considered a good ballpark estimator, and should be used along with other indicators, such as waist circumference, hip-to-waist ratio, and metabolic blood panels.

BMI does not measure body fat directly, but its values do have concurrence with more direct measures of body fat, and has a correlation with various metabolic and disease outcomes as compared with more direct measures of body fatness, which is why it is still commonly in use globally within medical organizations. (source: CDC)