BMI^[1] Calculator

What does BMI tell you?

BMI, or Body Mass Index, is a measure that compares your weight to your height. In Pakistan, it’s often used by doctors, nutritionists, and fitness professionals to estimate body fat and assess your risk for weight-related conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease.

While BMI can help identify potential health risks, it doesn’t tell the whole story. It was originally designed by a 19th-century mathematician as a population-level screening tool, not as a precise measure of an individual’s health.

Why BMI isn’t a perfect measure:

• It doesn’t account for body composition. BMI can’t differentiate between fat and muscle, so two people with the same BMI might have very different levels of body fat.
• It may overlook important health factors. For example, someone with a “normal” BMI might still have high blood sugar or cholesterol levels—both common in Pakistan even among people who aren’t visibly overweight.
• It doesn’t reflect where fat is stored. Central obesity (belly fat) is particularly linked to heart disease and type 2 diabetes, which are rising rapidly in Pakistan.

Health experts, including the WHO and Ministry of Health Services, Regulation and Coordination, recommend using BMI along with other measures—like waist size, blood sugar and cholesterol tests, blood pressure, and daily habits such as diet, exercise, and sleep—for a clearer picture of your overall health.

The takeaway: BMI can be a useful starting point—but it’s not the full picture. To understand your health better, discuss your results with a qualified healthcare professional who can interpret them alongside your medical history, lab results, and daily habits.

Reference: [1] https://www.worldobesity.org/about/about-obesity/obesity-classification