What Your BMI Can Tell You About Your Health

Your body mass index (BMI) is a quick and simple calculation that takes your height and weight measurements to estimate your body fat. While it doesn’t measure fat directly, it helps give you a general idea of whether you're underweight, at a healthy weight, overweight, or obese.

At Novell Primary Care and Weight Loss in Tallahassee, Florida, we use your BMI to help shape your weight loss program. 

In the meantime, here’s what your BMI can tell you about your health.

Decode your BMI score

You can calculate your BMI by dividing your weight in kilograms by your height in meters squared. If you’re using pounds and inches, divide your weight (in pounds) by your height (in inches) squared, then multiply that result by 703.

You can also use online calculators to quickly input your height and weight — the calculator does the rest! 

Here’s what your score means:

• Below 18.5 kg/m²: Underweight
• 18.5 – 24.9 kg/m²: Healthy weight
• 25 – 29.9 kg/m²: Overweight
• 30 kg/m² or higher: Obese

Knowing your number helps you understand where you stand—and whether it's time to make changes to protect your health.

What does your BMI tell you about your health?

Your BMI can act as an early warning sign for potential health risks. A high BMI is linked to serious conditions like heart disease, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and certain cancers. 

Your BMI can give you clues about your:

Risk of developing diabetes

If your BMI is 18.5 kg/m², the risk of developing diabetes is about 7% for men and 12% for women. But if your BMI climbs above 35 kg/m², the risk jumps dramatically to 70% for men and 74% for women. 

Risk of developing high blood pressure and heart disease

A higher BMI often means your heart has to work harder to pump blood, which can increase your blood pressure over time. Excess body fat, especially around the abdomen, is linked to elevated cholesterol and plaque buildup in the arteries — two key contributors to heart disease. 

If your BMI is high, you can take action to lower it and, in turn, lower your risk of these cardiovascular issues.

Risk of developing certain cancers

Research shows that excess body weight is associated with a higher risk of several types of cancer, including breast, colon, kidney, and endometrial cancers. Fat tissue can produce excess estrogen and other hormones that may fuel cancer cell growth. 

Women with a BMI greater than 24 have higher chances of developing breast cancer. The risks are even higher if you have a BMI over 24 and a family history of breast cancer — it can double your risk.

The good part is that by keeping your BMI within a healthy range, you can help lower these hormonal imbalances and reduce your overall cancer risk.

Nutritional needs

A high BMI isn’t the only score that can reveal information about your health. For example, a BMI that’s too low may be linked to malnutrition, weakened immunity, and other health issues.

Know the limitations of your BMI

While BMI gives a useful snapshot, it doesn’t tell the whole story. It doesn’t account for muscle mass, bone density, or fat distribution. 

For example, athletes may have a higher BMI due to muscle, not excess fat. That’s why it’s important to consider other health indicators alongside your BMI.

The newest guidelines recommend using a multifaceted approach to assessing obesity, including:

• Your waist-to-hip ratio
• Your BMI
• The impact of your weight on your ability to perform daily tasks

Our team takes all of this into account when recommending the right plan for you.

How Novell Primary Care and Weight Loss uses your BMI

At Novell Primary Care and Weight Loss, your BMI is the first step in crafting a personalized weight loss plan. Whether you’re looking to shed a few pounds or make a major lifestyle shift, your BMI helps our providers create a medically supervised weight loss program that fits your body’s unique needs.

We combine BMI with lab testing, body measurements (like waist-to-hip), lifestyle assessments, and your health history to offer sustainable, medically guided solutions including weight loss injections, fitness plans, medications, and fat-burning injections. 

You don’t have to figure it out alone — we’re here to help you take control of your health and feel your best.

To learn more about our medical weight loss plans, call our office in Tallahassee, Florida. You can also book a consultation online at any time.