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Use our free BMI Calculator online to estimate your Body Mass Index from home and better understand your weight category, obesity risk, and possible medical weight loss options. BMI is commonly used as a screening tool for overweight, obesity, metabolic risk, GLP-1 medication eligibility, and bariatric surgery evaluation.
Florida Surgery and Weight Loss Center uses BMI together with waist-to-hip ratio, medical history, lab testing, body composition, and provider evaluation to help eligible patients explore physician-guided weight loss options when clinically appropriate.
Florida Surgery and Weight Loss Center
Enter your height and weight, then press calculate.
🟢 BMI compares weight to height.
🟢 BMI can help screen for overweight and obesity.
🟢 BMI does not directly measure body fat or muscle mass.
🟢 BMI is often reviewed during GLP-1 and bariatric surgery evaluation.
🟢 A provider can help interpret BMI with labs, waist measurements, and medical history.
BMI is calculated using your height and weight to place you into a general adult weight category. These categories help guide clinical screening, but BMI should not be used as the only measurement of health.
| BMI Range | Category | Clinical Note |
|---|---|---|
| Below 18.5 | Underweight | May require nutrition and health evaluation. |
| 18.5 – 24.9 | Normal weight | Generally lower weight-related risk. |
| 25.0 – 29.9 | Overweight | May increase metabolic risk. |
| 30.0 – 34.9 | Obesity Class 1 | Medical weight loss may be discussed. |
| 35.0 – 39.9 | Obesity Class 2 | May qualify for bariatric evaluation with related conditions. |
| 40.0 and above | Obesity Class 3 | Often evaluated for comprehensive obesity treatment. |
Based on your BMI results, you may qualify for medical weight loss, GLP-1 therapy, or bariatric surgery evaluation depending on provider assessment.
BMI is a standard screening tool used to identify patients who may benefit from physician-supervised weight loss. Higher BMI levels may be associated with increased risk of type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, sleep apnea, fatty liver disease, joint pain, and metabolic conditions.
BMI is often combined with other tools, such as Waist-to-Hip Ratio Calculator, waist circumference, lab testing, and medical history to create a more complete metabolic profile.
GLP-1 and GLP-1/GIP medications, such as semaglutide or tirzepatide, may be discussed as part of a physician-supervised medical weight loss program when patients meet certain criteria.
BMI is a key factor in determining eligibility for gastric sleeve surgery and other bariatric procedures. General screening guidelines may include BMI 40 or higher, or BMI 35 or higher with obesity-related medical conditions.
In some cases, patients with BMI 30–34.9 and significant metabolic disease may also be evaluated depending on clinical factors and current guidelines.
At Florida Surgery and Weight Loss Center, BMI may be reviewed alongside waist-to-hip ratio, waist circumference, body fat percentage, blood sugar, insulin levels, cholesterol, metabolic labs, medical history, and risk factors.
This comprehensive approach helps providers determine whether medical weight loss, GLP-1 therapy, GLP-1/GIP therapy, or bariatric surgery evaluation may be appropriate for eligible patients.
BMI is helpful, but it does not account for muscle mass, body composition, fat distribution, ethnicity-related risk differences, or individual metabolic health.
That is why BMI is best used as part of a full medical evaluation, not as a standalone diagnosis.
Use these calculators and educational tools to better understand weight management, body composition, medication dosing, and treatment options.
Answered in a physician-guided educational format by Dr. Sergey Terushkin, MD, FACS.
Body Mass Index, or BMI, is a screening tool that compares your weight to your height. As a bariatric surgeon, I use BMI as one of several measurements to help assess obesity-related health risk and determine whether a patient may benefit from medical weight loss or bariatric surgery evaluation.
BMI is useful, but it is not perfect. It does not directly measure body fat, muscle mass, or fat distribution. That is why BMI should be reviewed together with waist circumference, waist-to-hip ratio, lab testing, blood pressure, and medical history.
For most adults, a BMI between 18.5 and 24.9 is considered a normal weight range. A BMI from 25 to 29.9 is considered overweight, and a BMI of 30 or higher is generally considered obesity.
Many patients may qualify for physician-guided medical weight loss with a BMI of 30 or higher. Some patients with a BMI of 27 or higher may also qualify if they have weight-related medical conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, sleep apnea, or high cholesterol. Eligibility depends on provider evaluation.
Eligibility depends on the medication, medical history, diagnosis, and provider evaluation. In general, GLP-1 or GLP-1/GIP weight loss treatment may be discussed for patients with a BMI of 30 or higher, or BMI of 27 or higher with certain weight-related conditions, when clinically appropriate.
Many patients are evaluated for bariatric surgery with a BMI of 40 or higher, or a BMI of 35 or higher with obesity-related conditions. Some patients with BMI 30–34.9 and significant metabolic disease may also be evaluated depending on clinical factors and current guidelines.
Yes. BMI does not show where fat is stored. Some patients have a normal BMI but still carry increased abdominal fat. This is why waist circumference and waist-to-hip ratio can be helpful additional screening tools.
They measure different things. BMI estimates weight status based on height and weight, while waist-to-hip ratio helps assess abdominal fat distribution. In clinical practice, both can be useful when reviewed together.
Higher BMI is associated with increased risk of insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, fatty liver disease, sleep apnea, high blood pressure, and cardiovascular disease. Individual risk varies and should be reviewed with a qualified provider.
If your BMI is in the obesity range, I recommend a medical evaluation. A provider can review your medical history, lab results, medications, weight history, and goals to determine whether lifestyle treatment, GLP-1 medication, GLP-1/GIP therapy, or bariatric surgery evaluation may be appropriate.
Florida Surgery and Weight Loss Center helps eligible patients review BMI, obesity risk, medical weight loss options, GLP-1 medications, and bariatric surgery pathways when clinically appropriate.
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