How to Calculate Body Mass Index (BMI): Are you obese?

The first level of assessment of your health is knowing your body mass index. So, in this article, we are attaching a Body Mass Index (BMI), Calculator. We also talk about who should and should not use the calculator.

Using the BMI calculator, you can determine how healthy are you. Your weight is average or obese? You may be underweight or overweight. Both are not good for your health.

Underweight people may have the risk of developing health conditions such as:

Malnutrition
vitamin deficiencies
Anemia
decreased immune functions
irregular menstrual cycles
growth issues in children

Overweight (obese) people may have high risks of developing health conditions such as:

type 2 diabetes
heart disease
Strokes
high blood pressure
certain types of cancer
fatty liver
kidney disease
Osteoarthritis
sleep apnea
pregnancy issues
joint problems

So, always have an awareness of a healthy lifestyle. The awareness begins with knowing your body mass index. Assess where you stand on your health condition and take timely action.

You can use the Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR) calculator for correcting your weight. BMR helps to decide how many calories need to be reduced or added every day.

Table Of Contents

What is Body Mass Index?
How body mass Index is calculated (the formula of BMI)?
How to Read Your BMI from the Body Mass Index Chart?
Body Mass Index Chart for Men and Women
Who can use the Body Mass Index Calculator?
Body Mass Index Calculator
How Accurate Is BMI Calculator?
Takeaway

What is Body Mass Index?

Body Mass Index is a method of measuring body mass fat. The attributes of weight and height of one’s body are used to calculate BMI. It gives a high level of reading of body composition. (1,2)

How body mass Index is calculated (the formula of BMI)?

The formula for BMI is very simple. The weight in kilograms is divided by the height in square meters. In the case of centimeters divide further by 100 to convert them to meters.

The BMI formula is Weight (kg) / [height (m)]2

How to Read Your BMI from the Body Mass Index Chart?

You can guess which category you belong to based on BMI readings (3). The following are categories published in the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.

BMI Readings (Range)	Body Weight
less than 19	underweight
19 to 24	normal
25 to 29	overweight
30 to 39	obese
above 40	extreme obesity

Body Mass Index Chart for Men and Women

For the simplicity of reading purposes, we have reconstructed the BMI Chart. The chart was published by the National Institute of Health. This table advocates what should be your correct weight based on your height.

Reconstructed BMI Chart of National Institute of Health — Reconstructed BMI Chart of the National Institute of Health

Who can use the Body Mass Index Calculator?

Yes, you and I can use the BMI calculator. What we mean is that a BMI calculator is meant only for normal people. Not for the people who are engaged in changing their physical structure for a purpose. The BMI calculator does not suit people like:

athletes
bodybuilders
muscle builders
growing young children
pregnant women
women in lactation and
elderly people

These groups of people’s weights cannot be judged easily. Because it is hard to say they have more muscle or fat in their bodies.

Athletes and bodybuilders may show a higher reading of BMI. The reading is high because they may have more muscle weight than fat weight. This does not mean they are obese or unhealthy.

Similarly, growing young children’s weight keeps varying. Elderly people may lose some weight due to aging. Because of these reasons, their BMI reading may show lower. It does not necessarily mean they are unhealthy.

Women’s composition changes during pregnancy and lactation. It affects their weight. In these conditions, BMI readings are not appropriate. It cannot determine whether they are overweight or not.

Body Mass Index Calculator

Here is the easiest way to calculate your BMI. Enter your weight and height in the below calculator and press the calculate button to know your BMI.

BMI Calculator

Enter your height:

Enter your weight:

How Accurate Is BMI Calculator?

Researchers do argue about how accurate is the BMI calculator. They doubt the accuracy of BMI readings on overweight, normal weight, or underweight. They argue this is not the correct way to measure body weight fat.

The main reason is that BMI cannot differentiate between muscle and fat. Some people are muscular and have less fat in their bodies. Some have more fat and fewer muscles. This tends to mislead that he or she is overweight (4).

Additionally, BMI cannot know where the fat is deposited in your body. In normal circumstances, belly fat is more harmful than fat just under the skin.

Thin people may also have belly fat but BMI may show normal readings. It does not mean they are healthy.

Doctors may use the BMI reading only to have first-level information about the patients. Helping them to decide if their patients are at a high, a low, or at no risk. The risks concerning the body weight of their patients.

Doctors may also use other methods in combination with BMI to determine the health of a patient such as:

Waist to Hip Ratio (WHR)
Waist-to-Height Ratio
Body Fat Percentage

Using these methods helps to come to a better conclusion. You have to gain or lose weight or you are at the correct weight.

There are other expensive methods also to find fat in our bodies. Such methods are CT and MRI scans. Doctors seldom use these methods. Unless it is deemed important depending on the patient’s health condition.

Takeaway

It is good to know what is your BMI. It is a simple calculator. All you need to know is your weight and height. BMI readings help you to determine whether you are underweight, normal weight, or overweight.

By knowing your BMI, you can take timely corrective actions for the right weight for your body. You can assess if BMI readings are high because of fat or muscles. If your muscles are sluggish and you have a bigger belly, you are mostly obese. If your muscles are stronger and not sluggish and your BMI reading is high you shouldn’t be worrying too much.

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