Calculate Your Body Mass Index Now and Unlock a Healthier You!
BMI stands for Body Mass Index. It measures how much fat you have compared to your height. A person who weighs 130 pounds and is 5’8″ tall would have a body mass index (BMI) of 26. If you weigh 120 pounds and stand 6 feet tall, then your BMI would be 24. You can use these numbers to determine whether you are overweight or not.
How Do I Calculate My BMI?
Taking your weight in kilograms and multiplying it by your height in meters squared will give you your BMI. Then multiply the result by seven hundred and five. So if you weigh 70kg and are 1.75m tall, then your BMI is 0.9. To find out what your BMI means, look up your number on the chart below.
BMI Chart
- Normal Weight – 18.50-24.99
- Overweight – 25.00-29.99
- Obese Class I – 30.00-34.99
- Obese II – 35.00-39.99
- Obese III – 40.00+
The following chart shows how BMI relates to different categories of underweight, normal weight, overweight, and obese.
Underweight: A child whose BMI is less than 18.5 is considered underweight. Underweight children tend to be shorter and lighter than average. Their bodies may not store enough calories to meet their daily nutritional requirements.
Normal Weight: Children between the ages of 5 and 19 years old who weigh at least 25% above the median weight for their age and sex are classified as having normal weight. Normal-weight children tend to be taller and heavier than average.
Overweight: Children between the ages of 5 and 19 years old whose BMI is greater than the 85th percentile for their age and sex and less than the 95th percentile are considered overweight. Overweight children tend to be larger than average.
Obese: Children between the ages of 4 and 19 years old whose BMIs are greater than the 95th percentile for their age are considered obese. Obese children tend to be much larger than average.
Are there any limitations to BMI?
Body Mass Index (BMI) is not always accurate: The body mass index (BMI) is a ratio of weight over height squared. A person’s BMI tells us how much fat they have compared to their total amount of weight. If someone weighs 180 pounds and stands at 5 feet tall, then their BMI would be.45. However, if that same person weighed 200 pounds and stood at 6 feet tall, then their calculated BMI would be 1.8. Therefore, the person who was heavier than average had a higher BMI than the person who was shorter than average.
However, BMI does not take into account muscle mass. Someone who weighs 160 pounds and stands at 5’10” may have a high BMI, while someone who weighs 190 pounds and stands at 6’0″ could have a lower BMI. In short, BMI cannot tell us whether a person is overweight or underweight.
If you’re wondering who should not use a BMI calculator, here’s a list of people who should avoid using one:
- People who have been diagnosed with any type of cancer.
- A woman who is pregnant.
- Those who are trying to get pregnant.
- Anyone who has had bariatric surgery.
- Anyone who takes medication that affects their appetite.
- Anyone who suffers from eating disorders.
- Anyone who recently lost a lot of weight.
- Anyone who uses steroids.
- Anyone who smokes cigarettes.
- Anyone who drinks alcohol excessively.
- Anyone who exercises regularly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why Should I Care About My BMI?
Your BMI tells you how much excess weight you carry around relative to your size. Having a high BMI indicates that you may have extra weight put on over time due to poor diet choices and lack of exercise. Being obese puts you at risk for many serious medical conditions including diabetes, heart disease, stroke, cancer, osteoarthritis, sleep apnea, gallbladder problems, back pain, infertility, depression, anxiety, and even premature death.
How does it work?
It takes two numbers to calculate the BMI – your weight in pounds and your height in inches. You multiply them together and divide by 603. If your result falls below 16 (16 x 0.0603 9.8), then you are underweight. Underweight people tend to be shorter than average, and their bones and muscles are not developed enough to hold their bodies upright. Their skin hangs loosely off their frame, and they often suffer from chronic illnesses. Those who weigh less than 130 lbs., however, are usually referred to as being at risk for malnutrition. People weighing between 131 and 200 lbs. are considered healthy; those with BMIs ranging from 201 to 239 are overweight, and those with BMIs greater than 240 are obese.
Why do we need to know our BMI?
Being overweight puts us at higher risk for numerous ailments and conditions, including diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke, cancer, arthritis, gallbladder problems, sleep apnea, and even infertility. Being underweight increases our chances of developing osteoporosis, depression, and anxiety.
Do I need to worry about my BMI?
Yes! Everyone should strive to maintain a healthy BMI. Not only does a low BMI increase the chances of getting ill, but it also decreases our lifespan. According to research conducted by the World Health Organization, adults with BMIs above 30 are 60 percent more likely to die in the first year after diagnosis than those whose BMIs fall between 18.5 and 29.9.
Should I lose weight?
No. There’s no evidence that dieting helps lower your BMI, and losing weight might raise your risk for some health issues. Instead, focus on eating healthier foods. Foods like fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean meats, fish, nuts, beans, legumes, and dairy products, among others, make up the cornerstone of a nutritious diet. Avoid processed food, sodas, and junk food. Try to eat five to nine servings of fruits and veggies each day.
Are there any exceptions?
If you have medical reasons for being underweight, talk to your doctor before trying to change your eating habits. For example, having leukemia or AIDS makes it hard to gain weight. Also, women who are pregnant or breastfeeding should avoid gaining too much weight.
Can I still exercise while maintaining my BMI?
Yes. Exercise doesn’t just help you build muscle; it also boosts your metabolism and burns calories. Aim for 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity weekly. That includes activities like walking briskly for 20 minutes, biking for 40 minutes, swimming laps for 30 minutes, playing sports for 45 minutes, doing cardio exercises three times per week, and performing aerobics once per week. Even though these workouts don’t burn as many calories as running, dancing, lifting heavy weights, or working out at the gym, they’ll still get your heart pumping and keep you fit.
