Healthy BMI For Women: It’s About Women’s Health
BMI, Body Mass Index, is the tool that is used to calculate an individual’s weight based on their height and weight. A high BMI can indicate risks of health problems. Therefore, in this post, we are going to discuss healthy BMI for women and how it affects women’s health.
BMI measurement can help someone understand whether they are underweight or overweight because both conditions may lead an individual to health risks. Once a woman knows what is a healthy BMI for them, they can take care of their health.
BMI Chart and Calculator
Healthy BMI for women and men are not distinguished. It is a simple formula that uses height and weight to calculate the BMI. Here is the BMI range and its classifications.
| BMI Range | Classification |
| < 16.5 | Extreme underweight |
| < 18.5 | Underweight |
| 18.5-24.9 | Normal weight |
| 25.0-29.9 | Overweight |
| 30.0-34.9 | Obesity Class I |
| 35.0-39.9 | Obesity Class II |
| 40 or greater | Obesity Class III |
Learn how to calculate your Body Mass Index (BMI) from here as it is not specifically for women.
When you know the healthy BMI for women, it is important to know is it suitable for all women?
Is Healthy BMI For Women Same For All?
The above chart can be helpful, but BMI is a one-size-fits-all concept. It can vary depending on the person’s ethnicity, muscularity, and other factors.
The healthy BMI for women may increase or decrease according to the body structure, muscles mass, etc. The BMI calculates based on body composition.
Like bodybuilders or athletes may have high BMI due to a significant amount of muscle mass, even though their body fat levels are low.
Similarly, postmenopausal women tend to have lower muscle mass and more fat in their midsection than younger women, even though they have the same BMI as younger women.
Benefits of Knowing Healthy BMI for Women
BMI is a useful tool to know the moderate weight of a person. Under or overweight can cause health problems. Knowing a healthy BMI for Women can reduce the risks of –
- Type 2 Diabetes
- Obesity
- Cardiovascular disease
- Stroke
- Some types of cancers
If a person finds a healthy BMI for women, they can begin making changes to their diet and lifestyle and reduce the risks and improve their health.
Other Ways To Measure Health and Weight
There are more ways to measure your health than BMI that are accurate enough.
- Skinfold Clippers- You may require experience in this, and it can be a little uncomfortable. But it is another best and easiest way to measure body fat.
- DEXA- Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry is an accurate way to measure total body fat, including muscle mass and bone mass.
- Mirror- It may seem strange, but looking at yourself in the mirror can be helpful in determining your weight.
- Electronic Body Fat Scanner- Many electronic tools are equipped with body fat scanners. They are easy to use and accurate in measuring health besides telling healthy BMI for women.
- Body Measurement- Your waist is an important indicator of disease risk. A waist is over 35 inches in women on average or over 31 inches in Asian women is often linked with increased disease risk.
These are some best ways to measure your health apart from BMI. Despite this, knowing a healthy BMI for women is always an important factor.
The Bottom Line
In general, 18.5-24.9 is considered normal or healthy BMI for women. Though health specialists and doctors have different cutoff points for different women. If you want to measure the correct BMI or your overall wellbeing, do not consider many factors as they may create confusion and result in wrong outputs.