| Title: Calculating a Healthy Female BMI: What Factors Affect It? | |
| The “healthy” body mass index (BMI) ranges from 18.5 to 24.9. However, BMI is not a one-size-fits-all concept. | |
| BMI is a tool researchers often use to track obesity at the population level. Doctors and other healthcare professionals also use it to assess people’s health. | |
| However, the medical community has raised concerns over using BMI as a measurement of obesity and health due to its significant limitations, particularly in assessing the health of Black and Hispanic people. | |
| Nevertheless, some health organizations recommend that people stay within a certain BMI range to reduce their risk of disease. | |
| BMI chart and calculator | |
| BMI does not distinguish between male, female, and intersex bodies. It’s a formula that uses height and weight to calculate a number meant to represent a person’s body fat levels. | |
| These numbers fit within the following categories: | |
| This calculator can help you determine your BMI, although it isn’t specifically for cisgender women and other people assigned female at birth: | |
| Doctors may recommend different cutoff points depending on a person’s ethnicity, muscularity, and other factors. | |
| The relationship between race, ethnicity, and female body composition | |
| Race and ethnicity do not determine weight, body fat distribution, proportion of muscle mass, waist circumference, or other body metrics. Every person is different. | |
| BMI does not inherently distinguish between people of different racial or ethnic backgrounds. However, different BMI cutoffs have been developed for Asian and South Asian populations. | |
| You’ll notice the language used to share stats and other data points is pretty binary , fluctuating between the use of “male” and “female” or “men” and “women.” | |
| While we typically avoid language like this, specificity is key when reporting on research participants and clinical findings. | |
| Although a BMI between 18.5 and 24.9 is associated with “healthy weight,” it doesn’t take into consideration that people differ in body shape and composition. | |
| This means that even if two people have the same BMI, they can have very different regional body fat distribution and muscle mass. | |
| For example, a 2015 review shows that Mexican American adults tend to have a different body fat distribution than non-Hispanic (NH) white or Black adults. | |
| On average, Mexican American adults have more body fat and a larger waist circumference than white or Black adults. | |
| NH Black adults tend to have a higher amount of muscle mass than white or Mexican American adults. | |
| Studies have shown that healthcare professionals are more likely to misclassify Black women as having obesity because of their higher percentage of muscle mass. | |
| Furthermore, researchers acknowledge that the link between BMI and mortality risk is much weaker among Black women than among white women. | |
| Research shows that Asian and South Asian populations have more body fat relative to their body weight than white populations and that health conditions like type 2 diabetes occur at lower BMI levels. | |
| This has led to changes in BMI cutoffs for Asian populations. Several cutoffs have been suggested. | |
| In one model , BMI between 23 and 24.9 is associated with overweight, and a BMI over 25 is associated with obesity. | |
| The relationship between age, hormones, and female body composition | |
| Older adults tend to have lower muscle mass and more fat located in their midsection than younger adults. | |
| This is due to age-related changes in hormone levels, slowing of physical activity, and changes in torso length caused by osteoporosis . | |
| Hormonal changes related to menopause can also affect BMI accuracy. A 2019 study of 1,329 postmenopausal participants found people with a “healthy” BMI may have overweight or obesity. | |
| The relationship between pregnancy and female body composition | |
| Healthcare professionals recommend that people gain a certain amount of weight during pregnancy based on their prepregnancy BMI range. | |
| Here are the Institute of Medicine reccomendations for weight gain during single pregnancy : | |
| Even though you can use these recommendations as helpful guidelines, it’s important to consult with a healthcare professional. | |
| They can help you determine a healthy weight gain during pregnancy based on your specific needs and overall health. | |
| The bottom line | |
| Scientists and healthcare professionals are well aware that BMI has significant flaws. However, it remains an important tool for assessing public health at the population level. | |
| Even though healthcare professionals can use BMI as a screening tool, they shouldn’t use it as a method to evaluate a person’s body fat levels or health status. | |
| To properly assess your overall health and well-being, a healthcare professional should consider many factors, including your blood test results, diet, activity levels, and sleep habits. | |
| References: | |
| https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK541070/ | |
| https://www.healthline.com/health/what-is-cis | |
| https://www.healthline.com/health/gender-binary | |
| https://www.healthline.comhttps://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4968570/ | |
| https://www.healthline.comhttps://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4555479/ | |
| https://www.healthline.comhttps://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6110123/ | |
| https://www.healthline.comhttps://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4555479/ | |
| https://www.healthline.com/health/type-2-diabetes | |
| https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK541070/ | |
| https://www.healthline.com/health/osteoporosis | |
| https://www.healthline.com/health/menopause/difference-perimenopause | |
| https://www.healthline.comhttps://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5821529/ | |
| https://www.healthline.com/health/pregnancy/how-much-weight-should-you-gain-during-pregnancy | |
| https://www.acog.org/clinical/clinical-guidance/committee-opinion/articles/2013/01/weight-gain-during-pregnancy | |
| https://www.healthline.com/health/pregnancy | |