BMI is a useful measure of overweight and obesity. It is calculated from your height and weight. BMI is an estimate of body fat and a good gauge of your risk for diseases that can occur with more body fat. The higher your BMI, the higher your risk for certain diseases such as heart disease, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, gallstones, breathing problems, and certain cancers. On the other hand, a healthy weight has many benefits: It helps you to lower your risk for developing these problems, helps you to feel good about yourself, and gives you more energy to enjoy life. However, a body mass index in the low range signals that you could be malnourished. This can indicate that your body isn’t properly absorbing enough nutrients. While the BMI is a good starting point to evaluate your health, keep in mind that the calculation does not account for muscle mass, which weighs more than fat. Therefore, it is important to not focus solely on weight related numbers. Instead, we offer a way to change your approach to weight loss, which can help you be more successful at losing the weight.