BMI Calculator: A Basic Guide
The World Health Organization uses the Body Mass Index (BMI) chart as an objective assessment tool for determining whether individuals are at risk for developing weight-related health problems.
The BMI chart is used for both adults and children, though the results are evaluated differently for each group.
If you're an adult who wants to calculate your BMI, then the following information will guide you through the process.
The BMI Formula If you want to calculate your BMI by expressing your weight in pounds and your height in inches, then you will use this formula: [weight / (height x height)] x 703.
If you want to find your BMI by expressing your weight in kilograms and your height in meters, then use the following formula: [weight / (height x height)].
As an alternative to figuring out the formula for yourself, a number of online calculators can find your BMI automatically, once you provide your weight and height in the requested units of measurement.
BMI charts designed with horizontal rows that display weights and vertical rows that display heights, or vice versa, also offer people an easy method of locating their BMI.
Finding Your BMI Here are two examples of determining a BMI: 1.
An adult woman is 65 inches tall and weighs 146 pounds.
She uses the formula [146 / (65 x 65)] x 703 to find her BMI, which is approximately 24.
3.
2.
An adult man is 1.
83 meters tall and weighs 90.
7 kilograms.
Using the formula [90.
7 / (1.
83 x 1.
83)], he finds that his BMI is approximately 27.
1.
Once you have plugged your height and weight into the formula and obtained your BMI value, you can then look at the BMI table to figure out what your result means.
Reading The BMI Table If your BMI falls between 18.
5 and 25, then your weight is considered to be within the normal range.
Depending on your height, the normal weight range may be quite broad - for instance, a woman who is 5 feet 7 inches tall can weigh anywhere between approximately 118 and 159 pounds and still have a normal BMI.
An adult person with a BMI of less than 18.
5 is considered to be underweight, and may be at risk for malnutrition and other disorders associated with a low body weight.
An adult who has a BMI between 25 and 30 is classified as being overweight.
A person with a BMI that is greater than 30 is considered to be obese and may be at risk for developing health issues such as heart disease.
The BMI chart is used for both adults and children, though the results are evaluated differently for each group.
If you're an adult who wants to calculate your BMI, then the following information will guide you through the process.
The BMI Formula If you want to calculate your BMI by expressing your weight in pounds and your height in inches, then you will use this formula: [weight / (height x height)] x 703.
If you want to find your BMI by expressing your weight in kilograms and your height in meters, then use the following formula: [weight / (height x height)].
As an alternative to figuring out the formula for yourself, a number of online calculators can find your BMI automatically, once you provide your weight and height in the requested units of measurement.
BMI charts designed with horizontal rows that display weights and vertical rows that display heights, or vice versa, also offer people an easy method of locating their BMI.
Finding Your BMI Here are two examples of determining a BMI: 1.
An adult woman is 65 inches tall and weighs 146 pounds.
She uses the formula [146 / (65 x 65)] x 703 to find her BMI, which is approximately 24.
3.
2.
An adult man is 1.
83 meters tall and weighs 90.
7 kilograms.
Using the formula [90.
7 / (1.
83 x 1.
83)], he finds that his BMI is approximately 27.
1.
Once you have plugged your height and weight into the formula and obtained your BMI value, you can then look at the BMI table to figure out what your result means.
Reading The BMI Table If your BMI falls between 18.
5 and 25, then your weight is considered to be within the normal range.
Depending on your height, the normal weight range may be quite broad - for instance, a woman who is 5 feet 7 inches tall can weigh anywhere between approximately 118 and 159 pounds and still have a normal BMI.
An adult person with a BMI of less than 18.
5 is considered to be underweight, and may be at risk for malnutrition and other disorders associated with a low body weight.
An adult who has a BMI between 25 and 30 is classified as being overweight.
A person with a BMI that is greater than 30 is considered to be obese and may be at risk for developing health issues such as heart disease.