Published on: 7/21/2025
What is the most accurate calculator for determining if I'm overweight?
The Body Mass Index (BMI) is commonly used to see if someone is overweight, but it might not be the most accurate for everyone. Other methods that estimate body fat percentage can be more precise.
Explanation
To determine if someone is overweight, the Body Mass Index (BMI) is a popular tool. Reference 1 suggests that BMI can predict risks in certain medical situations. However, BMI might not always be the best tool for everyone. It mainly uses height and weight, which doesn't account for muscle mass or body fat percentage.
Reference 2 discusses that estimating body fat percentage can provide a more accurate picture of whether someone is overweight. This method considers how much of your body is made up of fat, which can be more telling than just weight and height.
Reference 3 compares BMI with other methods and suggests that while BMI is easy to use, it might not be as effective in all cases. For a clearer picture of health, looking at body fat percentage might be better.
In summary, while BMI is useful and easy to calculate, for more precise information about being overweight, considering body fat percentage can be more helpful.
(References)
- de Jong RH. (2001). Body mass index: risk predictor for cosmetic day surgery. Plastic and reconstructive surgery, 11496206.
- Mill-Ferreyra E, Cameno-Carrillo V, Saúl-Gordo H, & Camí-Lavado MC. (2019). Estimation of the percentage of body fat based on .... Semergen, 30268360.
- Goonasegaran AR, Nabila FN, & Shuhada NS. (2012). Comparison of the effectiveness of body mass index and .... Singapore medical journal, 22711041.
Tell your friends about us.
We would love to help them too.
For First Time Users
What is Ubie’s Doctor’s Note?
We provide a database of explanations from real doctors on a range of medical topics. Get started by exploring our library of questions and topics you want to learn more about.
Learn more about symptoms
Was this page helpful?
Purpose and positioning of servicesUbie Doctor's Note is a service for informational purposes. The provision of information by physicians, medical professionals, etc. is not a medical treatment. If medical treatment is required, please consult your doctor or medical institution. We strive to provide reliable and accurate information, but we do not guarantee the completeness of the content. If you find any errors in the information, please contact us.