BMI Calculator

BMI Introduction

BMI is a measurement of a person's leanness or corpulence based on their height and weight, and is intended to quantify tissue mass. It is widely used as a general indicator of whether a person has a healthy body weight for their height. Specifically, the value obtained from the calculation of BMI is used to categorize whether a person is underweight, normal weight, overweight, or obese depending on what range the value falls between.

BMI Table for Adults

This is the World Health Organization's (WHO) recommended body weight based on BMI values for adults. It is used for both men and women, age 20 or older.

Risks Associated with Being Overweight

Being overweight increases the risk of a number of serious diseases and health conditions. Below is a list of said risks, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC):

• High blood pressure
• Higher levels of LDL cholesterol, lower levels of HDL cholesterol
• Type II diabetes
• Coronary heart disease
• Stroke
• Gallbladder disease
• Osteoarthritis (a breakdown of cartilage and bone within a joint)
• Sleep apnea and breathing problems
• Clinical depression, anxiety, and other mental disorders

Limitations of BMI

Although BMI is a widely used and useful indicator of healthy body weight, it does have its limitations. BMI is an estimate that cannot take body composition into account. Due to a wide variety of body types as well as distribution of muscle, bone mass, and fat, BMI should be considered along with other measurements rather than being used as the sole method for determining a person's healthy body weight.

For example, highly fit athletes often have a high BMI because muscle is denser than fat and weighs more by volume. According to their BMI alone, they may be classified as "overweight" or even "obese," despite being in peak physical condition.

BMI Formula

Below are the equations used for calculating BMI in the International System of Units (SI) and the US customary system (USC):