| The National Institutes of Health and the National Heart, Lung &
Blood Institute support the use of BMI since it provides a more accurate measure of total
body fat compared with the assessment of body weight alone. Experts generally consider a
BMI below 20 to be underweight and a BMI of 20 to 25 to be healthy. BMIs of 25 to 30 are
generally considered overweight while a BMI over 30 is generally considered very
overweight (obese). If you need to lose weight... Medifast Can Help.
* Please Note:
There are some limitations to the Body Mass Index calculation, because it does not measure
body composition. BMI overestimates body fat in persons who are very muscular and it can
underestimate body fat in persons who have lost muscle mass (e.g., many elderly). People
with more muscular builds may be classified as overweight according to BMI numbers even if
they have a very healthy body fat percentage. A high BMI from increased muscle alone is
not associated with health risks. |