Fitness & Nutrition / BMI Calculator

The Ethnic Factor

The BMI formula was developed in a Caucasian context. It is less accurate in non-white populations. A study involving a diverse population published March 2009 in the British Journal of Nutrition found this:

For people with the same BMI:

African American women have 1.76% less body fat than same-gender Caucasians.

African American men have 4.59% less.

Hispanic women have 1.65% more.

Asian women have 2.65% more.

No variation was noted for Asian or Hispanic men.

Note: BMI is not the same as percentage of body fat; it is a ratio between fat and muscle.