Understanding your category
The World Health Organization classifies adults as underweight (below 18.5), healthy (18.5–24.9), overweight (25–29.9) and obese (30+). The bands are broad screening tools, not diagnoses.
What BMI misses
BMI cannot distinguish muscle from fat, so athletes often register 'overweight' despite low body fat. It also shifts with age and ethnicity. Pair it with body-fat percentage or waist measurement for a fuller picture.
For anyone under 20, BMI must be compared against age-and-sex percentile charts rather than adult cutoffs — this calculator is intended for adults.