WHAT IS THE BODY MASS INDEX (BMI)?

Whether you want to lose weight, improve your health, or actively work on building muscle mass, the Body Mass Index (BMI) is often the first metric calculated. Based on your BMI, you can then tailor your training and nutrition program. But what exactly is this index, and how can you calculate your BMI yourself?

Layenberger BMI

What is BMI?

The Body Mass Index (BMI) is a measure that assesses the ratio between your weight and height. It's a useful tool for roughly estimating whether your weight is healthy in relation to your height.

How is BMI calculated? Calculating BMI is relatively simple: Body weight (in kilograms) is divided by the square of height (in meters). The formula is:

BMI = Body weight in kg : Body height in m²

Layenberger BMI

What does the BMI tell us?

The resulting BMI value falls within a range that indicates different weight categories. These categories can be broadly classified as underweight, normal weight, overweight, or obesity (severe overweight).

  • BMI below 18.5: Underweight
  • BMI 18.5 to 24.9: Normal weight
  • BMI 25 to 29.9: Overweight
  • BMI 30 or higher: Obesity

Furthermore, there are differences between women and men as well as with age, as the following tables show:

  • Layenberger BMI Tabelle Frau
  • Layenberger BMI Tabelle Mann
Layenberger Ernährungspyramide Die richtige Nährstoffverteilung

How do I interpret my BMI?

Based on your BMI, you can now calculate your basal metabolic rate and activity level. Your basal metabolic rate indicates how much energy your body uses at complete rest – even if you spend the entire day on the couch. The additional energy required for physical activity is called your activity level. Have you already determined these values? Then you can now create your personalized training and nutrition program.

For optimal training results, protein shakes, such as whey protein shakes, are an excellent supplement after strength training. They not only promote muscle growth but also support fat burning.

The BMI is a helpful initial assessment of physical condition and supports the creation of training and nutrition plans; however, it also has its limitations and, for example, does not take into account the distribution of fat and muscle mass. People with a lot of muscle mass can have a higher BMI without being overweight.

For a more accurate assessment, you should consider additional factors such as muscle mass, fat distribution, body surface area, and general fitness.