Final answer:
BMI between 25 and 29.9 kg/m² indicates overweight, which can increase health risks, but BMI is less accurate for individuals due to not accounting for muscle vs fat mass. Obesity is a BMI greater than 30, and morbid obesity exceeds 40, or 35 with health issues. Lifestyle changes can help reduce BMI and health risks.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Body Mass Index (BMI) is a tool used to categorize an individual's body weight in relation to their height and assess the potential risk for health issues. A BMI between 25 and 29.9 kg/m² indicates that a person is overweight. It is important to note that while BMI can be a useful indicator for assessing health risks in a population, it is not as accurate for individuals due to its failure to distinguish between muscle and fat mass. For example, an athlete with a high muscle mass may have a high BMI, but this would not necessarily indicate an unhealthy body composition.
Obesity, on the other hand, is classified as a BMI greater than 30 kg/m², and it is associated with an increased risk of several health conditions, including heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and certain cancers. Morbid obesity is when a BMI exceeds 40 kg/m² or 35 kg/m² with obesity-related health issues. Making lifestyle changes like improving diet and increasing physical activity can help reduce BMI and associated health risks.