Health & Fitness · BMI（体质指数） · Updated 2026-10-25
What Is Body Mass Index (BMI)?
Definition
BMI = weight / height². China uses tighter cutoffs (24 overweight, 28 obese) than WHO because metabolic risk appears at lower BMI in Chinese populations. It cannot distinguish muscle from fat.
Formula
BMI = kg / m² (China normal range: 18.5–23.9)
Worked Example
1.75m/72kg gives BMI 23.5 (normal). But a 1.6m/60kg person with a 95cm waist carries higher risk despite a similar BMI.
Common Misconception
"Normal BMI means healthy" - visceral-fat-heavy people can have normal BMI yet elevated risk; "over-BMI means obese" - muscular people get misclassified. BMI is a screen, not a diagnosis.
Matching Calculators
Related Terms
Keep Exploring
Browse the full glossary, or head back to the homepage for 1,435 free online calculators.
Back to glossary