A healthy Body Mass Index (BMI) is generally considered to be in the range of 18.5 to 24.9. BMI is a measure of body fat based on height and weight that applies to adult men and women. It is used as a screening tool to categorize individuals into different weight categories, which can help assess the risk of developing certain health conditions.
Here are the standard BMI categories:
- Underweight: BMI less than 18.5
- Normal weight (Healthy range): BMI 18.5–24.9
- Overweight: BMI 25–29.9
- Obesity: BMI 30 or greater[1][2][3][4][5].
While BMI is a useful tool for assessing general body weight categories, it does not directly measure body fat or account for factors such as muscle mass, bone density, and overall body composition. Therefore, it should be considered alongside other health assessments and not used as the sole indicator of an individual’s health.
Citations:
[1] https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/educational/lose_wt/BMI/bmicalc.htm
[2] https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/9464-body-mass-index-bmi
[3] https://www.nhsinform.scot/healthy-living/food-and-nutrition/healthy-eating-and-weight-management/body-mass-index-bmi/
[4] https://www.webmd.com/diet/body-bmi-calculator
[5] https://www.heart.org/en/healthy-living/healthy-eating/losing-weight/bmi-in-adults