For many Americans, health and wellness are very important. However, it's often hard to determine where you stand. Are you exercising enough? Is your diet adequate? Is your weight in a normal range? For many doctors, BMI, or body mass index, is an effective introductory benchmark for determining a patient's wellness. Do you know your BMI? Use our BMI calculator below to see how your body measures.
Body mass index is a way to determine body fat based on weight and height. It's not a perfect measure - muscle mass is not taken into account, for example - but for the average American, the ranges are largely considered adequate to encompass almost all body types and compositions.
BMI ranges are as follows:
| Underweight BMI | Under 18.5 |
| Healthy BMI | 18.5 to 24.9 |
| Overweight BMI | 25 to 29.9 |
| Obese BMI | 30 and above |
| Class I Obesity | 30 to 34.9 |
| Class II Obesity | 35 to 39.9 |
| Class III Obesity | 40 and above |
While a high BMI does not necessarily lead directly to health issues, obesity drastically increases the risks of conditions like heart disease, stroke, joint damage, gallbladder disease, and even some forms of cancer.
Bariatric surgery is a highly specialized medical field that requires extensive education, experience, and ongoing training. Here at our bariatric center in Atlanta, GA, our medical director Dr. Charles Procter Jr., MD, FACS has dedicated his entire medical career to caring for patients who struggle with chronic obesity.
Dr. Procter has been performing ground-breaking, minimally-invasive robotic surgery since 2008, and he is among a select group of surgical pioneers who mastered robotic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, sleeve gastrectomy, and duodenal switch surgical weight loss procedures.
Along with Dr. Procter, our patients are supported by our caring team of experienced weight loss experts including our full-time family nurse practitioner, licensed dietitian, surgical coordinator, and a medical assistant - all who are fully committed to empowering our patients to achieve the best possible outcomes from their weight loss surgeries.
BMI is often among the primary points of consideration in determining criteria for bariatric surgery. Most surgeons require patients to have a BMI of 40 or higher, or have a BMI of 35 or higher with a weight-related secondary health condition, like diabetes or heart disease, but patients are evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
BMI is not the only factor considered in determining eligibility. There is a strong lifestyle component in weight loss surgery. Patients must be able to demonstrate that attempting diet and exercise have not yielded weight loss. Further, they must be able to commit to the changes that accompany surgery forever. Many surgical procedures require an altered diet and regular exercise; to ensure patients are willing to make this commitment, these kinds of differences to daily habits are often encouraged before moving forward with surgery.
If you have an obese BMI and believe you may be a candidate for surgery, Beltline Health can help. Our doctors are happy to meet with you, discuss your history of weight loss efforts, and help determine whether you are a good fit for bariatric surgery. We will take into account your BMI among other criteria, offering a fully customized approach to weight management care and support.
Ready to see if weight loss surgery is right for you? View your body mass index with the BMI calculator above or give Beltline Health a call today!
BMI means body mass index is a way to determine body fat based on weight and height.
Most surgeons require patients to have a BMI of 40 or higher, or have a BMI of 35 or higher with a weight-related secondary health condition, like diabetes or heart disease, but patients are evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
BMI is not the only factor considered in determining eligibility. There is a strong lifestyle component in weight loss surgery. Patients must be able to demonstrate that attempting diet and exercise have not yielded weight loss. Further, they must be able to commit to the changes that accompany surgery forever.
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