Body Mass Index Calculator

What is Body Mass Index?

Body Mass Index or BMI is based on an individual's height and weight, is a helpful indicator of obesity and underweight in adults. BMI is used to screen and monitor a population to detect health risks and/or nutritional disorders.

Special considerations

Note for athletes:

A BMI greater than 25 may or may not be due to increases in body fat. For example, professional athletes may be lean and muscular, with little body fat, yet they may weigh more than individuals with the same height because of their muscle mass regardless of BMI.

Note for children:

BMI is age and gender specific. Because BMI changes substantially as children get older, BMI-for-age is the measure used for children ages 2 to 20 years. BMI-for-age is plotted on growth charts by healthcare professionals.

USA Calculation

Metric Calculation

BMI rates for Adults:

	Underweight	= BMI less than 18.5
	Normal Range	= BMI of 18.6 - 24.9
	Overweight	= BMI of 25 - 29.9
	Obese	= BMI of 30 or more

Determine BMI

BMI compares well to body fat but cannot be interpreted as a certain percentage of body fat. The relation between fatness and BMI is influenced by age and gender. For example, women are more likely to have a higher percent of body fat than men for the same BMI. At the same BMI, older people have more body fat than younger adults.

How does BMI relate to health among adults?

A healthy BMI for adults is between 18.5 and 24.9. BMI ranges are based on the effect body weight has on disease and death. A high BMI is predictive of death from cardiovascular disease. Diabetes, cancer, high blood pressure and osteoarthritis are also common consequences of overweight and obesity in adults.

Obesity itself is a strong risk factor for premature death!!

If you or someone you care about is dealing with a weight management problem, you should consult with a specialist.

Additionally, you may also want to check out our Forums or Blog Site to see how others are dealing with similar issues.

Disorders