What is BMI?

Simply put, your Body Mass Index (BMI) is a way to determine if you are at a healthy weight by measuring of the ratio of your mass to your height. Doctors and surgeons use BMI as an indicator of obesity because a healthy weight for a tall person might be extremely unhealthy for a shorter person. For this reason, your BMI helps determine if you are overweight or obese and if you are a candidate for bariatric surgery.

BMI and Obesity

BMI is not a perfect tool for determining if your weight negatively impacts your health. If you are a very muscular person, for example, you may have a relatively high BMI without having an unhealthy amount of excess body fat. Either your regular doctor or our board-certified bariatric surgeon Dr. Shyam Dahiya can help you determine if your weight has become a danger to your health.

Though BMI is not a perfect measurement of body fat or unhealthy weight, doctors most often use the following general BMI categories:

• Underweight = 16-20
• Normal weight = 20-25
• Overweight = 25-30
• Obese (Class I) = 30-35
• Obese (Class II) = 35-40
• Obese (Class III) = 40+

If your BMI is over 30, it’s time to start considering your options for losing weight. If you have had trouble losing weight in the past, talk to Dr. Dahiya about LAP-BAND® surgery and other potential options for combating obesity with bariatric surgery.

Calculating Your Body Mass Index (BMI)

To be a candidate for gastric bypass surgery or gastric sleeve surgery, you must have a BMI of 40+ or a BMI of 35+ combined with a serious obesity-related medical condition. If your BMI is between 30 and 35 and you have health problems caused by obesity, you may be a candidate for LAP-BAND® surgery.

Your Body Mass Index is calculated by dividing your mass in kilograms by the square of your height in meters. The mathematical formula looks like this:

BMI = Mass [kg] / (Height [m])²

You can also calculate your BMI using pounds and inches by using this conversion factor:

BMI = Mass [lb] x 703 / (Height [in])²

If math isn’t your strong suit, you can try our online BMI calculator to find out if you meet the BMI requirement for bariatric weight loss surgery.

If your BMI puts you in the obese category and you are ready to make a change, please contact LA bariatric surgeon Dr. Shyam Dahiya and schedule a consultation at our office near Riverside and Orange County, California to determine if you qualify for bariatric surgery.