For both men and women, a BMI measurement under 18.5 is considered underweight, 25 to 29.9 is considered overweight, and 30 and above is considered obese. Generally, health care professionals say that the healthy range for body mass index is 18.5 to 24.9. What Are The Different BMI Classifications? Both formulas provide relatively accurate results and are easy to do on a calculator. Alternately, you can multiply your weight in pounds by 703, then divide that answer by your height in inches squared. Finally, divide your answer from step one by your answer from step three and you have your BMI! This process is an easy way to convert your imperial body measurements to metric so they fit into the formula. Then multiply your height in inches by 0.025. First, multiply your weight in pounds by 0.45. If you know your weight in pounds and your height in inches, you can calculate your BMI using a more complex mathematical formula. If you know your height in centimeters and your weight in kilograms, just divide your weight by your height squared (multiplied by itself). You can also calculate your BMI on your own with a simple mathematical formula. Sometimes these charts are not totally inclusive of very small or very large weights and heights, so calculating your BMI using math is better for people of non-average body sizes. Then follow the numbers to where these data points meet and the number shown is your body mass index. There are also BMI charts where you can find your height on one axis and your weight on another. Not only does it tell you your body mass index measurement, the calculator also tells you a healthy BMI range for your age and sex.
Just plug in your weight, height, age, and gender and the calculator does all the work for you. The easiest way to calculate your body mass index is by using an online BMI calculator like this one. BMI can predict future weight-related issues including disease and even death, so it is a very helpful tool in screening for health risks and obesity. If you are concerned about your weight or body size, calculating your body mass index is a good place to start before heading to the doctor’s office. However, studies show strong correlations between BMI measurements and the results of more direct body fat measures.
BMI is a great way to measure body fat if you are on a budget, as it costs nothing and can be done by yourself at home.īecause it measures excess weight and not actually excess fat, BMI is considered a surrogate measure of body fat. This measure works best on men and women over age 20. Body mass index is equal to your weight in kilograms divided by your height in centimeters squared. It is an indirect way to measure your body fat content in comparison to your height, which represents your body fat content. BMI or body mass index is one way of measuring a person’s health and relative body size. All licensed material is being used for illustrative purposes only any person depicted in the licensed material is a model.In recent years, you may have heard a lot about BMI Chart measurements but not known exactly what it is. Images used are licensed courtesy of Getty Images.
For 2-year-olds through 19-year-olds, obesity is defined as at or above the 95 th percentile of children of the same age and sex. The CDC’s BMI-for-age growth charts take into account these differences and visually show BMI as a percentile ranking. Teens’ and children’s BMI need to be age- and sex-specific, because the amount of body fat changes with age and the amount of body fat differs between boys and girls. Weight (in pounds) /( height ) 2 x 703įor adults 20 and older, BMI is interpreted using standard weight status categories: BMIįor adolescents and children, however, BMI is interpreted differently, even though it is calculated using the same formula. BMI is calculated the same way for adults and children, based on the following formula: