Ethnic Differences in BMI and Disease Risk. Body Mass Index Versus Body Fat Percentage in Prospective National Football League Athletes: Overestimation of Obesity Rate in Athletes at the National Football League Scouting Combine. Provencher MT, Chahla J, Sanchez G, et al. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. Those who carry weight around the middle-what's called an “apple” body shape-have higher health risks than people with a 'pear' shape (those who accumulate weight in the hips and thighs).Ĭenters for Disease Control and Prevention.

Body shape: Evidence suggests that where body fat is located matters.Race/ethnicity: Body fat proportions can vary by race, meaning that BMI scores can mean very different things if you are Asian (who have greater proportional body fat than Whites at the same BMI) or White (who have greater proportional body fat than Blacks at the same BMI).For example, a BMI below 23 in someone over 75-which is in the 'normal' range for adults-is associated with a higher risk of mortality (death), while being in the “overweight” range is not. Age: BMI may not accurately predict health risks for young and old people.Therefore, a woman in a “safe” category may be at higher risk of heart disease and other conditions than her male counterpart of the same BMI. Sex: Females tend to have more body fat than males.It can also underestimate body fat in people with very little muscle mass. Muscle mass: Because BMI cannot distinguish between fat and muscles, it can overestimate body fat in athletes or individuals with lots of muscle mass.

Bmi calculator women in kg