BMI Calculator
The BMI (Body Mass Index) is used by the medical profession to quickly and simply determine a person's weight in regard to their height.
From a straight forward calculation the BMI factor can be gained and gives a measure which can be used to determine if a person is underweight, of normal weight, overweight or obese.
However, there is an argument against BMI.
Using the BMI calculator
Use the sliders on the calculator below to specify your height (in feet and inches) and weight (in either pounds or kilograms) and calculate your BMI.
Using your BMI number
Once you have your BMI number look at the table below to determine if you are underweight, normal, overweight or obese.
Many people who are overweight never develop diabetes. However, obesity has been statistically proven to increase type 2 diabetes risk and sleep disordered breathing.
BMI formula
The calculation for BMI was invented by Adolphe Quetelet, a Belgian mathematician born in 1796. He proposed that people's weight could be classified relative to an ideal weight for their height.
To this day, Body Mass Index is also referred to as the Quetelet index
BMI (kg/m2) = mass (kg) / height (m)2
| BMI | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Below 18.5 | Underweight |
| 18.5 to 24.9 | Healthy weight |
| 25 to 29.9 | Above ideal range |
| 30 and above | Obese |
Criticisms of BMI
BMI, or Body Mass Index, calculates one's mass per unit of surface area. Due to this, those with a high proportion of muscle (for example, athletes) may have a very high BMI.
However, this is no indication of their fitness nor of their general health. Furthermore, some critics argue that age isn't taken into consideration.