BMI Calculator: Track Your Health Today

Find out your Body Mass Index (BMI) with just a few simple inputs. Enter your height and weight to see if you’re in a healthy range. Use this tool to better understand your body and take charge of your wellness journey.

Weight Unit
Weight
Kg
Height Unit
Height
M
BMI -
Classification -
Underweight Normal weight Overweight Obesity
By maintaining a healthy weight, you lower your risk of developing serious health problems.

Introduction to the body mass index (BMI)

Body Mass Index (BMI) is widely used as an indicator of body fat content. Your weight alone is not sufficient to establish if you are in a healthy weight range. For example, a tall but slender person can weigh more than a short but plump individual. But the former may enjoy better health as long as their weight is suitable for their height. The ideal weight is also likely to differ for men and women of similar heights.

How then do you know whether you fall in the healthy weight range or not? Your BMI solves this confusion. It correlates your weight with your height and evaluates whether your weight is appropriate for your stature. You can use a BMI calculator to find out your BMI.

Although not an exact measurement of body fat percentage, in most cases, BMI is a reliable tool for establishing risk levels for illnesses, especially ailments related to excess body fat. Many healthcare professionals use BMI to determine effective doses for medicines. Often people with a higher BMI need higher doses. Hence, it is crucial to be aware of your BMI to ensure your overall wellness.

Why Use a BMI Calculator?

Using a BMI calculator is a convenient way to determine your BMI score quickly. Below are some key reasons to use this tool:

Health Monitoring: A BMI calculator helps you keep track of your health. It enables you to spot potential health issues early on so you can take action to stay healthy. The calculator can provide you with the opportunity to take proactive measures to maintain and enhance your health.

Fitness Goals: A BMI calculator becomes a valuable companion in helping you achieve your fitness goals. It allows you to gauge your physical progress accurately. By regularly checking your BMI, you can ensure that your fitness endeavours align with your specific goals.

Weight Management: A BMI calculator can be ideal for effective weight management. It assists you in setting realistic weight goals and a path towards a healthier weight. It helps you establish a suitable weight management strategy with achievable milestones over time.

Health Assessment: You can gain valuable insights into your overall health status by understanding your BMI. The online BMI calculator takes into consideration your height and weight and offers a quick assessment of your overall health. It highlights potential health risks and areas where you can improve your holistic well-being. This helps you stay fit, active and healthy.

How to calculate BMI

If you want to calculate your BMI, you have to find out your weight and height first. Once you know these values, you can arrive at the result by following the two steps mentioned below:

  • Multiply your height by itself (height X height).
  • Divide your weight by the answer you get in the first step.

The equations for calculating the BMI are as follows:

International System of Units (SI)

BMI = weight (kg) ÷ (height (m))2

Example:

For a 177 cm (1.77 m) individual weighing 75 kg, BMI = 75 / (1.77 * 1.77) = 75/ 3.13 = 23.96

Imperial System

BMI = weight (lb) ÷ (height (inches)) 2 × 703

Example:

For a 160-pound, 5’8” (68”) individual weighing 75 kg, BMI = (160/ 68*68) * 703 = (160/4624) * 703 = 24.3

What are the health risks related to being overweight?

Excess weight brings with it countless health complications, some of which can be fatal. A higher BMI than average (over 25) is associated with increased risks for diseases like:

  • Type 2 diabetes
  • Heart conditions
  • Higher levels of LDL cholesterol and lower count of HDL cholesterol in the blood, increasing chances of coronary artery diseases and heart attacks
  • High triglycerides
  • Stroke
  • High blood pressure
  • Gall bladder-related complications
  • Insulin resistance
  • Osteoarthritis or breakdown of joint cartilage leading to painful joints
  • Sleep apnea or intermittent breathing obstruction during sleep
  • Atherosclerosis or building up of cholesterol deposits (plaques) in blood vessels (arteries)
  • Skin health problems like skin tags, darkening of the skin
  • Breathing trouble
  • Poly-cystic ovarian disease in women leading to reduced fertility and other menstrual irregularities
  • Hernia
  • Varicose veins
  • Cataract
  • Gout
  • Stress incontinence or urge to urinate frequently
  • Clinical depression and other mental health issues
  • Certain types of cancer (breast, colon, endometrial, gall bladder, kidney, liver)

How to calculate BMI

For adults over the age of 20 years, BMI values are grouped into the following weight status categories1:

BMI BMI Weight status
Below 18.5 Underweight
18.5–24.9 Normal weight
25–29.9 Overweight
30–35 Obese
Over 35 Morbid obesity

BMI for Children

In children, body fat content changes with age. It is also normal for teenage girls to have more body fat than boys. BMI calculation for children follows the sameformula as adults. But the value is then plotted on standard gender-specific BMI-for-age percentile charts for children. It determines the child's weight status compared to children of the same gender and age.

For example, a 25th percentile BMI for a 6-year old female child would indicate that the child's weight is higher than 25% of girls aged 6.

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frequently asked questions

The primary purpose of calculating BMI for women and men is to assess whether the weight is within a healthy range for the height. The BMI calculator gives you a numeric value that helps you understand if you are underweight, average weight, overweight or obese. This, in turn, highlights the health concerns you are at risk for. The BMI calculator can be used by individuals, patients, as well as healthcare professionals to gain a better view of a person’s health. Moreover, it is a straightforward and simple tool that enables you to take charge of your health.

Yes, BMI calculations are generally age and gender specific. This means you must know how to calculate BMI for men and women separately to understand the assessment in each case effectively. While the method of calculation remains the same, the results may be perceived differently for men and women.

BMI is generally not an ideal tool for assessing a woman’s weight during pregnancy. This is because pregnancy brings about natural changes in your weight and body distribution, which makes BMI less accurate. It is crucial for pregnant women to ask their healthcare providers to monitor their weight and health during this stage. Instead of using BMI, healthcare professionals may employ alternative methods to ensure more precise and relevant assessments.

Although the BMI calculation formula is quite accurate in determining your health status, it has certain limitations. One significant drawback of the calculator is that it cannot differentiate between muscle and fat. This can pose a concern for athletes and those with above-average muscle mass. The BMI calculator also fails to account for body fat distribution. It does not distinguish between muscle, excess fat or bone mass, nor does it offer insights into how fat is distributed among individuals. Hence, it is crucial to incorporate other health metrics for a more nuanced health assessment.

A BMI between 18.5 and 24.9 is generally considered normal for most adult men. However, as highlighted above, it is essential to understand that this does not take into consideration the individual’s muscle mass, fitness level and specific health conditions.

Like men, a BMI between 18.5 and 24.9 is commonly considered healthy for most adult females. Nevertheless, individual factors such as muscle mass, fitness level and specific health conditions play a crucial role in a comprehensive health assessment

It is essential not to ignore either your weight or BMI, as both metrics play integral roles in understanding your overall well-being. Weight is a fundamental component in the calculation of BMI, while BMI considers the relationship between your weight and height to provide a realistic picture of your overall health. Therefore, you must consider both weight and BMI.
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