See where you stand. It may inspire you to make positive changes.

Am I at a healthy weight? It’s an important question to ask.

One tool doctors use to answer it is called body mass index, or BMI — an estimate of how much body fat you have. It’s based on your height and weight.

Why it matters so much

A high BMI raises your risk of some of the leading causes of chronic illness and death in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. That includes type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke and some types of cancer.

If your BMI isn’t where it should be, discuss it with your doctor. Together, you can decide what next steps are best for you.

There’s good news if you do need to shed some pounds. Even a little weight loss — 5 to 10 percent of your body weight — may help you improve your health, according to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.

It’s worth noting: BMI isn’t perfect

It doesn’t literally measure fat. So in some cases, it may not be the best way to know if you need to lose weight. For instance, very muscular people, like body builders, may have a high BMI without excess body fat. If you have questions about your BMI, be sure to talk with your doctor.