How to calculate BMI
Everyone is curious about their Body Mass Index(BMI). Fortunately, calculating bmi is relatively easy and can be done in minutes. This calculation, which can be done online or with a calculator, utilizes your weight and height to determine if you are within, above, or below the healthy range for bmi.
Online bmi calculators like ours above make it easy to quickly calculate bmi in the comfort of your home. Once you have the bmi, it is important to take into account age, muscle mass and any other health issues that may skew the bmi reading when considering whether bmi is within healthy ranges or not.
Knowing your bmi can even help you plan a healthy diet and fitness routine that is tailored especially for you!
BMI range
| BMI | Category |
|---|---|
| < 15 | Very seriously underweight |
| 15 - 16 | Very Underweight |
| 16 - 18.5 | Underweight |
| 18.5 - 25 | Normal (healthy weight) |
| 25- 30 | Overweight |
| 30 - 35 | Obesity class I (mild obesity) |
| 35 - 40 | Obesity class II (severe obesity) |
| > 40 | Obesity class III (very severe obesity) |
BMI and its reliability
Body Mass Index (BMI) has become a widely used metric for determining a person's level of health. However, some experts dispute its accuracy as an effective measure of well-being. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, BMI does not consider factors such as muscle mass or individual body composition, meaning it could give falsely negative readings to physically fit people. Likewise it can fail to identify people with dangerous levels of body fat.
For these reasons, critics argue that stated bmi should not be taken as the sole measure of healthy weight in adults. Consequently, bmi should not be relied upon as the definitive indicator of health; instead, it should be used in combination with other metrics such as waist circumference, blood pressure and cholesterol levels.
If you want a more reliable answer about your weight, we advise you to see a doctor as they will most likely make a more individual assessment.
BMI calculation
BMI is a mathematical formula that divides a person's height by the squared length of their body in metres (kg/m2) to arrive at a BMI number.
A normal BMI is between 18.5 and 25. This indicates that the person is within the normal weight range for their height.