Category of body weight	BMI
Underweight	Below 18.5
Average	18.5-24.9
Overweight	25.0-29.9
Heaviness	30.0 And Above

As researchers have learned more about diet and weight and their effects on health, it has become clearer that determining whether or not someone is obese is not simply a matter of how many pounds he or she weighs. According to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute one of the key measures to examine is the Body Mass Index, or BMI.

BMI is generally related to the amount of body fat. It is not related to gender. Higher BMIs usually mean higher body fat. When a person’s BMI is 30 or higher, studies have found the individual to have an increased chance of having high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, diabetes, certain types of cancer, arthritis, and breathing problems. The reason – the heart, lung, and joints are supporting a greater mass than they were designed to handle.

BMI is basically a ratio of a person’s weight to their height. A BMI between 18.5 and 24.9 is considered the best by most health professionals. A BMI of 25 to 29.9 is considered overweight and one 30 or above is considered obese.

Do you have more mass than your heart can handle?