BMI · Body mass index
Where do you fall on the BMI scale?
BMI is one of the most common ways to screen for weight categories. Enter your height and weight — we'll show your number, the category, and what it might mean for your options.
Your BMI
25.8
Your BMI puts you in a range where GLP-1 medications are commonly indicated. A licensed Pallas clinician can review your history and confirm eligibility — about 2 minutes.
See if you qualifyReference
BMI ranges and what they mean
Context
BMI and GLP-1 eligibility
FDA-approved GLP-1 medications like semaglutide and tirzepatide are typically indicated for adults with a BMI of 30+, or 27+ with at least one weight-related comorbidity (hypertension, type 2 diabetes, dyslipidemia, obstructive sleep apnea, or cardiovascular disease). Use the projection calculator to model what 12 months of treatment looks like at your starting weight.
Where BMI falls short
- It doesn't distinguish muscle from fat — athletes often register as overweight.
- Doesn't measure where fat is stored (visceral fat is the bigger health risk).
- Less accurate for older adults and pregnant people.
- Cutoffs were developed primarily from European populations and may not apply equally across all ethnic groups.
For a fuller metabolic picture, combine BMI with waist circumference, body composition, blood pressure, and fasting glucose — all things your provider will review.
FAQ
Common BMI questions
Body Mass Index (BMI) is a simple ratio of weight to height, calculated as weight (kg) divided by height squared (m²). It's used as a screening tool to categorize weight — not as a diagnostic measure of body fatness or health on its own.
The World Health Organization defines: underweight (below 18.5), healthy weight (18.5–24.9), overweight (25–29.9), Class I obesity (30–34.9), Class II obesity (35–39.9), and Class III obesity (40+).
BMI is a population-level screening tool and has well-known limitations. It does not distinguish between muscle and fat, so athletes can register as 'overweight' while having low body fat. It is also less accurate for older adults, pregnant people, and some ethnic groups. Waist circumference, body fat percentage, and metabolic markers provide a fuller picture.
FDA labeling for weight-loss GLP-1 medications (such as Wegovy® and Zepbound®) indicates them for adults with a BMI of 30 or higher, or a BMI of 27 or higher with at least one weight-related condition such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or type 2 diabetes. Your provider reviews your full health history to make this determination.
Yes. Sustained weight loss through nutrition, activity, sleep, and stress management can lower BMI. Published Phase 3 trials of FDA-approved Wegovy® (Novo Nordisk) and Zepbound® (Eli Lilly) reported average body weight reductions of roughly 15% and 20% respectively when paired with lifestyle counseling; lifestyle alone in those trials produced 2–5% over a year. Those results were observed with the FDA-approved products studied in the trials and have not been clinically established for compounded medications.