BMI
Body Mass Index - Understanding Your Health Metric
What is BMI?
Body Mass Index (BMI) is a simple calculation using a person's height and weight. It's used as a screening tool to categorize whether someone is underweight, normal weight, overweight, or obese, which can help assess potential health risks.
How to Calculate BMI
BMI = Weight (kg) ÷ Height² (m²)
Example: 70 kg ÷ (1.75 m)² = 70 ÷ 3.06 = 22.9 BMI
BMI = (Weight (lbs) ÷ Height² (inches²)) × 703
Example: (154 lbs ÷ (69 inches)²) × 703 = 22.8 BMI
BMI Categories
Underweight
< 18.5
May indicate malnutrition, eating disorder, or underlying health condition
Normal Weight
18.5 - 24.9
Indicates healthy weight range with lower risk of chronic diseases
Overweight
25.0 - 29.9
May increase risk of heart disease, diabetes, and high blood pressure
Obese
≥ 30.0
Higher risk of serious health conditions including heart disease and diabetes
BMI Calculator
Important Notes
BMI doesn't distinguish between muscle and fat mass
Athletes may have high BMI due to muscle mass, not fat
Age, sex, and ethnicity can affect BMI interpretation
BMI is a screening tool, not a diagnostic measure
Consult healthcare professionals for complete health assessment
Other factors like waist circumference also matter for health
