Health Baseline: Understanding Your BMI
**Body Mass Index (BMI)** is a simple screening tool used globally by health professionals to categorize weight-related health risks. By measuring the ratio of weight to height, it provides an initial indicator of whether a person is underweight, at a healthy weight, overweight, or obese.
WHO Standards
| Underweight | < 18.5 |
| Normal | 18.5 – 24.9 |
| Overweight | 25 – 29.9 |
| Obese | 30+ |
Important Caveats
BMI does NOT account for body fat percentage vs. muscle mass. Athletes or bodybuilders may have a high BMI due to muscle density while being in excellent health. Always use BMI as a starting point, not the final word on your fitness.