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A 25-year-old female asked:

Do you think the bmi chart for women in america is too lenient? is it okay to go lower than the 18.5 bmi if i still have excess body fat?

1 doctor answer • 2 doctors weighed in
Dr. Philip Kern
Dr. Philip Kernanswered
Endocrinology 45 years experience
BMI: A BMI of 18.5 is low, but the measurement has limitations. It is only weight/height (2) so people that are short/tall/chunky/small boned can all skew the numbers. Presumably you are over age 18, and not suffering from anorexia nervosa. Are you menstruating? You feel that you still have excess body fat. Suggest you let your physician help you with this determination.
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Dr. Susan Rhoads
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Last updated Apr 9, 2018

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Female health

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