Understanding BMI: Limitations & Health Context

BMI (Body Mass Index) = weight (kg) / height² (m²). It screens for weight categories but has important limitations:

• Muscular individuals may have high BMI despite low fat (athletes).
• Normal BMI can mask high body fat (sarcopenic obesity).
• Does not distinguish fat distribution (visceral vs. subcutaneous).
• Ignores fitness, diet, metabolic health.

BMI should be one of several tools (waist circumference, body composition, blood work, clinical eval) for health assessment. Consult a professional for individualized evaluation.