What is the healthy BMI range for women?

The currently common clinical reference range for healthy BMI for adult women in China is 18.5~23.9. The calculation method is also very simple. It can be calculated by dividing the weight in kilograms by the square of the height (meters). For example, a girl with a height of 160cm will fall into this healthy range as long as her weight is between 47.4kg and 61.2kg.

However, this value is just a general preliminary screening standard. When it comes to health, you cannot be stuck with this number. Girls who often do strength training have much greater muscle density than fat, and their BMI will increase as their weight increases. However, their low body fat rate and good metabolism have nothing to do with being "unhealthy". I previously helped a girl who has been practicing CrossFit for four years to do a physical test. She is 163cm, weighs 63kg, and her BMI is almost 24, which is just on the borderline of being overweight. However, her body fat rate is only 20%, her visceral fat level is only 1, and her hormone indicators are much more stable than many girls with a BMI of 20. She rarely even catches a cold.

There is also room for flexibility in the adaptive BMI range for women of different ages. For example, a teenage girl who is still developing during puberty and her body is still growing a skeleton to store nutrients. As long as her BMI is not less than 17.5 and not more than 24, there is absolutely no need to clamor to lose weight. ； Postmenopausal women naturally lose muscle mass and bone density. Instead, it is recommended to maintain a BMI between 21 and 24. A little fat can actually reduce the risk of osteoporosis and fractures.

In the past few years of working as a health consultant, I have seen too many young girls who have lowered their BMI to below 18 in order to wear small-size clothes. They look like they have lost weight, but when their aunt doesn’t come for two or three months, handfuls of their hair fall out, and they are out of breath even after climbing the third floor. In fact, the reason is that the body fat rate is too low, which affects the secretion of estrogen, which in turn damages the body. To put it bluntly, BMI is just a reference tool. You don’t need to worry about numbers. As long as you have enough energy, regular work and rest, and a normal physical examination, there will be no problem. Even if the BMI is slightly higher or lower than the general range, there is no problem at all. After all, health is never defined by a number.