Understanding Your Health Numbers
BMI, body fat percentage, calorie intake, hydration — each tells you something different. Using them together gives a much more complete picture than any one metric alone.
BMI vs Body Fat % — Why Both Matter
BMI is a quick screening tool that uses only weight and height. A muscular person and someone with high body fat can have identical BMIs but very different health profiles. Body fat percentage directly measures what matters for health risk — the proportion of fat versus lean mass. Use BMI for a quick check; use the body fat calculator for a more accurate assessment.
The Calorie Equation
Your Total Daily Energy Expenditure (TDEE) is your true maintenance calorie level after accounting for activity. Eat 500 calories below TDEE to lose roughly 0.5kg/week; eat 500 above to gain. This is more reliable than any diet program that doesn't start with your individual TDEE.
Indian-Specific Health Considerations
South Asians develop weight-related health risks at lower BMI values than Western populations. The WHO has recommended slightly lower BMI thresholds for Indians: Normal weight is 18.5–22.9 (vs 18.5–24.9 globally), Overweight is 23–24.9, and Obese is 25+ — lower than the global 30+ threshold. Our BMI calculator uses these India-specific ranges.
Source: Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, India · World Health Organization