widely used health screening tool in the world. It's quick, free, and requires no equipment. But treating it as the final word on your health can give you a false sense of security, or unnecessary worry.
A BMI below 18.5 is considered underweight. Between 18.5 and 24.9 is healthy. 25 to 29.9 is overweight, and 30 and above is classified as obese. Simple enough — but the problem is what that number can't see.
What BMI misses
BMI cannot tell the difference between muscle and fat. A fit, muscular person and someone carrying excess body fat can have the exact same BMI. It also ignores where fat sits — and that matters enormously. Fat stored around the abdomen is far more dangerous than fat on the hips or thighs, and BMI doesn't distinguish between the two.
There's also the population problem. Standard BMI thresholds were built on largely European data. Research increasingly suggests that West African body types may face different risk levels at the same BMI values. It's a number worth knowing, but not one designed with us in mind.
What to track alongside it
Your waist circumference is arguably more useful than your BMI. Measure at the narrowest point of your torso. For women, under 80cm is low risk. For men, under 94cm. If you're above those numbers, it's worth paying attention regardless of what your BMI says.
Fasting blood glucose and blood pressure round out the picture. Nigeria has one of the highest rates of undiagnosed diabetes in Africa, and high blood pressure has no symptoms — you can feel completely fine and still be at risk. A quick check at any Healthrite branch covers all three.
Use BMI as a starting point, not a verdict. The full picture is what keeps you healthy.
