The BMI Risk Service is a clinical tool used to assess healthy weight in adult men and women. A healthy weight is defined as a value linked to a lower risk of weight-related diseases and health conditions.

Unlike traditional BMI calculators that only use height and weight, the NowPatient BMI Risk Service is an advanced measure that also takes into consideration other parameters such as your age, sex, waist size, and ethnicity. For example, if you are from a black and ethnic minority group, you are at increased risk of type 2 diabetes with a BMI of 23 or more.

The BMI Risk Service is classified as a Class I medical device under UK MDR 2002 regulations for its intended use. It is free for all registered NowPatient users.

Navigate to the ‘Personalised Insights’ section of your account homepage to find the BMI Risk Service Card.

If you completed your Health Profile when you first created your NowPatient account, your score will be automatically calculated and displayed within the Service Card.

If the Health Profile was not completed, the card will appear locked. Select the ‘Unlock’ button and complete the questions in your health profile.

Once finished, you will be redirected to the account homepage where your score will be displayed on the BMI Risk Service Card.

The BMI Risk Service uses the following special category data from your Health Profile:

The BMI Risk Service identifies and classifies health risks.

NowPatient’s AI algorithms trigger warnings based on your BMI Risk Score. You will receive two types of personalised alerts, one based on your BMI score and one based on your waist readings.

The categories below explain each BMI band and the recommended actions:

It is very important that you speak to your doctor.

No action required.

You are classed as high risk. Making changes to diet and exercising or increasing activity can reduce your chances of developing weight related, long term health complications like diabetes.

It is very important that you speak to your doctor about having a blood test to check for conditions like diabetes, as you can have type 2 diabetes for years without knowing.

You are classed as very high risk. Making changes to diet and exercising or increasing activity can reduce your chances of developing weight related, long term health complications like diabetes.

It is very important that you speak to your doctor about having a blood test to check for conditions like diabetes, as you can have type 2 diabetes for years without knowing.

If you are an NHS patient, your doctor can also refer you to weight management clinics to help you reduce your weight.

You may also qualify for NowPatient weight loss programs, which is a private treatment service.

Although waist size is not used directly in the NowPatient BMI Risk calculation, it is an important additional health indicator. Carrying too much fat around your stomach can raise your risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and stroke, even if you have a healthy BMI.

If your waist size is above the following thresholds, it means you are carrying too much fat around your stomach which can raise your risk of developing heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and stroke. NowPatient recommends that you try to lose weight if your waist size is:

If your waist size exceeds the thresholds, it means you are carrying too much fat around your stomach which can raise your risk of developing heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and stroke.

You have a very high risk of developing long-term health conditions and you should make an appointment with your GP if your waist size is:

To measure your waist size, follow these steps:

NowPatient’s AI algorithms trigger warnings based on your waist readings. If the algorithm identifies a risk, you will receive a push notification with clinical advice on what to do next, sent directly to your device, as well as an In-App notification viewable in the ‘Notifications’ section of your account homepage.

NowPatient advises all users to update waist readings monthly and also before any NowPatient Service Consultations booked.

If the BMI Risk Service classifies you as being ‘at risk’ of developing long-term health conditions, you can raise this with your doctor at your next appointment.

NowPatient may also automatically qualify you for risk-reducing strategies such as the Weight Loss Programs Service. You will be notified if you are eligible.

Update your Health Profile monthly and before any NowPatient Service Consultations you may book. Updated information may affect your BMI Risk Score, which will be reflected as an updated score on the Service Card. This allows you to track the benefits of any lifestyle or medication interventions over time.

If you have an eating disorder, the BMI Risk Service should not be used. Please get further advice from your doctor or other healthcare professional.

The BMI Risk calculation does not factor in muscle mass, which is denser than fat. As a result, muscular adults and athletes may be classified as overweight or obese despite having low body fat. Conversely, older adults who lose muscle may fall within the healthy weight range even if they have excess body fat.

Additionally, the BMI Risk calculations should not be used for pregnant individuals, as pregnancy-related weight changes can affect accuracy.

Everything you need to know about the NowPatient Advanced BMI Assessment — how your personalised risk score is calculated, what your score means, how waist size affects your risk, and the limitations you should be aware of.

The BMI Risk Service is a clinical tool used to assess healthy weight in adult men and women. A healthy weight is defined as a value linked to a lower risk of weight-related diseases and health conditions. Unlike traditional BMI calculators that only use height and weight, the NowPatient BMI Risk Service is an advanced measure that also takes into consideration other parameters such as your age, sex, waist size, and ethnicity. For example, if you are from a black and ethnic minority group, you are at increased risk of type 2 diabetes with a BMI of 23 or more.

Most BMI calculators stop at height and weight. The NowPatient Advanced BMI Assessment goes further and combines BMI with age, sex, waist size, and ethnicity to deliver a personalized health risk score that actually means something. It also tracks your metrics over time, alerts you when your risk level changes, and if action is needed, can automatically qualify you for support through NowPatient’s Weight Loss Programs Service.

Yes. The BMI Risk Service is a free service available to all registered NowPatient users.

Yes. The BMI Risk Service is classified as a Class I medical device under UK MDR 2002 regulations for its intended use.

Navigate to the ‘Personalised Insights’ section of your account homepage. The BMI Risk Service Card will be displayed there. If you completed your Health Profile when you first created your NowPatient account, your score will already be calculated and visible. If not, the card will appear locked — select the ‘Unlock’ button and complete the questions in your health profile to activate it.

The BMI Risk Service uses the following special category data from your Health Profile:

The table below explains each BMI category and the recommended actions:

The BMI Risk Service identifies and classifies health risks. NowPatient’s AI algorithms trigger warnings based on your BMI Risk Score. You will receive two types of personalised alerts — one based on your BMI score and one based on your waist readings. If the algorithm identifies a risk, you will receive a push notification with clinical advice on what to do next, sent directly to your device, as well as an In-App notification viewable in the ‘Notifications’ section of your account homepage. You can also view any warning advisory by selecting the ‘View Warning’ button on the BMI Risk Service Card.

Update your Health Profile monthly and before any NowPatient Service Consultations you may book. Updated information may affect your BMI Risk Score, which will be reflected as an updated score on the Service Card, allowing you to track the benefits of any lifestyle or medication interventions over time.

Although waist size is not used directly in the NowPatient BMI Risk calculation, it is an important additional health indicator. Carrying too much fat around your stomach can raise your risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and stroke — even if you have a healthy BMI. The BMI Risk Service uses your waist size to generate a separate waist risk alert distinct from your BMI score.

If your waist size is above the following thresholds, it means you are carrying too much fat around your stomach which can raise your risk of developing heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and stroke. NowPatient recommends that you try to lose weight:

If your waist size exceeds the following thresholds, it means you are carrying too much fat around your stomach which can raise your risk of developing heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and stroke. You have a very high risk of developing long-term health conditions. You should make an appointment with your GP:

According to WHO guidance, waist circumference should be measured:

NowPatient recommends measuring your waist at the same time of day each month — for example, first thing in the morning — for the most consistent results.

NowPatient’s AI algorithms trigger warnings based on your waist readings. If the algorithm identifies a risk, you will receive a push notification with clinical advice on what to do next, sent directly to your device, as well as an In-App notification viewable in the ‘Notifications’ section of your account homepage. NowPatient advises all users to update waist readings monthly and also before any NowPatient Service Consultations booked.

If the BMI Risk Service classifies you as being ‘at risk’ of developing long-term health conditions, you can raise this with your doctor at your next appointment. NowPatient may also automatically qualify you for risk-reducing strategies such as the Weight Loss Programs Service. You will be notified if you are eligible.

No. If you have an eating disorder, the BMI Risk Service should not be used. Please get further advice from your doctor or other healthcare professional.

The BMI Risk calculation does not factor in muscle mass, which is denser than fat. As a result, muscular adults and athletes may be classified as overweight or obese despite having low body fat. Conversely, older adults who lose muscle may fall within the healthy weight range even if they have excess body fat.

Additionally, the BMI Risk calculations should not be used for pregnant individuals, as pregnancy-related weight changes can affect accuracy.

No. The BMI Risk Service is a clinical screening and monitoring tool, not a diagnostic service. It identifies risk levels that warrant a conversation with your doctor, who can order appropriate tests and recommend the most suitable interventions for your individual circumstances.