Normal BMI for Women

BMI (Body Mass Index) is a figure that indicates whether you are within a normal range of weight or are underweight, overweight or obese. Based on parameters such as height and weight, body mass index gives you an idea of where you stand health-wise.

BMI Calculation for Women

A normal BMI for women is a reading between 18.5 and 24.9. Anything below 18.5 is considered underweight and above 24.9 is considered overweight. A BMI of 30 or more indicates that the individual is obese.

BMI in Women Increases with Age

Calculating your BMI is definitely better than weighing yourself on a traditional weighing scale. This is because BMI accounts for body frame. For women, the BMI is broadly indicative of good health, and a chart of the BMI at various stages in a woman's life has been shown to increase with age. This is considered natural by experts, as some amount of weight gain during a woman's life cycle is acceptable, mostly due to childbirth.

Limitations

BMI does not account for the presence of muscle. As muscle tends to weigh more heavily than fat, fit athletes (with greater muscular strength) tend to show up as obese in a BMI calculation. BMI does not take into account waist circumference, an important risk factor for heart attacks. So even if you do have a healthy BMI, your waist measurements must be taken to assess the risk of contracting heart disease.