The risk for health conditions goes up on a continuum as BMI goes up.
Photo composite by Amelia Manley for Verywell Health; Getty Images
What Are the Obesity Classes?
As a general trend, as BMI increases, so does the likelihood of health problems.
Photo composite by Amelia Manley for Verywell Health; Getty Images
The more risk factors a person has, the more likely the person is to develop the health problem.
A healthcare provider needs to perform appropriate health assessments to evaluate an individual person’s health and risks.
BMI is calculated differently for children than adults.
Consulting aBMI index chartor using a BMI calculating tool can make this easier.
These may include:
What Is Considered Underweight?
If you have a higher BMI, you may have nutrition counseling covered by your insurance.
Summary
A BMI of 30 or over is consideredhaving obesity.
Obesity is divided into three classes, with increasing BMIs.
Risk of health conditions increases as BMI goes up.
BMI alone cannot measure a person’s body composition or health status.
If you feel weight loss might be beneficial to you, talk to a healthcare provider.
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Centers For Disease Control and Prevention.Steps for losing weight.
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.Calculate your body mass index.
National Health Service.Body mass index.
World Obesity Federation.Obesity classification.
The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology.Redefining obesity: advancing care for better lives.The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology.
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