Healthy eating
Good food choices help you manage weight, ward off illness, support digestion and immunity, and keep your mind sharp and your mood steady.
Understanding your result
A BMI between 18.5 and 24.9 falls in the healthy weight range. Staying there can lower your risk of problems such as obesity and type 2 diabetes. Build meals around fruit and vegetables with less sugar and fat, and aim for about 30 minutes of movement on five days each week.
Regular exercise
Staying active builds fitness, helps manage weight, lifts your mood and lowers disease risk for a longer, healthier life.
Adequate sleep
Rest sharpens your thinking, steadies your emotions and gives your body time to recover and recharge.
When BMI falls short
BMI is a handy quick check, but it does not fit everyone. Some groups should read their result with care, and sometimes another measure tells a better story.
Gender
Boys and girls grow and store body fat differently as they age, so a child’s age and gender must be considered when reading their BMI.
Age
Older adults tend to gain body fat and lose muscle, which can make BMI underestimate how much body fat they carry.
Muscle
BMI cannot tell muscle from fat, so very muscular people may be labelled overweight or obese.
Pregnancy
Weight rises during pregnancy to support the baby. A healthy BMI before pregnancy helps reduce health risks for mother and child.
Race
Some Black and Asian groups can face health risks at a lower BMI. Speak to your GP or practice nurse to learn more.