Body Mass Index (BMI) Calculator: Calculate Your BMI

BMI helps measure how thin or heavy a person is by comparing their height and weight. It gives an estimate of a person’s overall body weight. Many people use it to find out if a person’s weight is appropriate for their height. The number you get from a BMI calculation helps place a person in a group such as underweight, normal weight, overweight, or obese based on that category. These BMI categories can vary by age, region, and sometimes even include smaller groups such as severely underweight or very severely obese. Being underweight or carrying extra weight can affect a person’s health in many ways, so while BMI is not a perfect way to assess a healthy weight, it still serves as a helpful indicator to check whether further tests or action is needed. You can see the table below to understand how the calculator sorts each BMI category.

What is BMI?

Body mass index, or BMI, measures the relationship between your weight and height. You calculate it by dividing your weight in kilograms by your height in meters squared, or using pounds per square inch of height. Different BMI numbers correspond to specific weight categories, such as underweight, healthy weight, overweight, and obese.

BMI helps show how healthy a person’s weight is. Both the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO) note that being underweight or overweight can increase the risk of many health problems. BMI also gives doctors and health professionals an easy way to talk clearly about body weight with their patients.

Who is BMI for?

The BMI calculator is applicable to most adults aged 18-65. It is less accurate for the following people:

• Muscle builders
• Long-distance athletes
• Pregnant women
• The elderly
• Young children
• People with physical disabilities
• People of certain races

Why?

BMI does not take into account whether your weight is muscle or fat. More muscular people, such as athletes, may have a higher BMI but are not at greater risk for their health. Less muscular people, such as children who have not completed their development, or older people who are losing some muscle mass, may have a lower BMI. During pregnancy and breastfeeding, body composition changes, so BMI is not appropriate to use.

What is a Healthy BMI?

A healthy BMI is usually between 18.5 and 24.9, and this range indicates a balanced level of body weight.

It is important to understand that body fat alone does not define your overall health. Many things play a role, including your genes, daily activity, smoking or tobacco use, alcohol habits, and even your mental well-being. All of these factors influence your overall health and your chances of developing various medical problems.

Limitations of Measuring Body Mass Index

It is important to understand that BMI is not the most reliable way to determine whether your weight falls within a healthy range for your height. It does not give a complete picture of your overall health and does not take into account key factors such as age, gender or body composition (fat, muscle and bone).

For the following groups, BMI does not give an accurate result:

• Some ethnic backgrounds, such as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, and people of Asian or South Asian heritage.
• Pregnant women.
• People aged 19 or under.
• Athletes or anyone with high muscle mass.
• People whose medical conditions change the body’s fluid levels (for example, heart failure).

Waist measurement (waist circumference) is also important along with your BMI. Measuring your waist helps screen for health risks by showing how much fat is sitting around your middle. However, it also has some limitations. For example, it does not provide appropriate results for pregnant women, children, or people with abdominal swelling due to a medical condition.

How do I Calculate My BMI?

You can find your BMI yourself by following these simple steps:

• Multiply your weight in pounds by 703.
• Take that result and divide it by your height in inches (remember, there are 12 inches in 1 foot).
• Divide that number again by your height in inches.

For example, if a person weighs 180 pounds and is 5 feet 5 inches tall (which is 65 inches), they can find their BMI like this:

1. 180 x 703 = 126,540
2. 126,540 / 65 = 1,946.769
3. 1,946.769 / 65 = 29.95

So their BMI is 29.9.

BMI Table for Adults

This table shows the weight ranges recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) for adults based on BMI values. It applies to both men and women aged 20 years and above.

BMI Table for Children and Teens (Age 2-20)

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provides BMI guidelines for children and adolescents ages 2 to 20.

Conclusion

Due to today’s busy lifestyle and increasing pollution levels, obesity and lifestyle-related illnesses are becoming common even among the youth. Therefore, using a BMI calculator in India proves to be helpful, as it allows you to assess your health risks. Consulting a medical professional can help you interpret your BMI results and guide you towards healthy choices to avoid potential complications.

Apart from following a healthy lifestyle, it is equally important to be prepared for unexpected health issues. Healthcare costs are constantly rising, and paying for quality treatment can put a strain on your financial expenses. Fortunately, a health insurance plan can protect your savings by covering medical expenses. Therefore, along with adopting healthy habits, you should also consider investing in a comprehensive health insurance policy. This approach ensures that your family is financially protected in case of any medical emergency.

FAQs: Frequently Asked Questions