1. What is BMI?

Body Mass Index (BMI) is a simple calculation using a person's height and weight to assess body fatness. It's a screening tool that may indicate whether a person is underweight, normal weight, overweight, or obese.

2. How is BMI Calculated?

The BMI formula is:

Where:

• Weight is measured in kilograms (kg)
• Height is measured in meters (m)

Example: For a man weighing 70 kg and 1.75 m tall, BMI = 70 / (1.75 × 1.75) = 22.9 kg/m²

3. BMI Categories

For adults:

• Underweight: BMI < 18.5
• Normal weight: BMI 18.5-24.9
• Overweight: BMI 25-29.9
• Obese: BMI ≥ 30

Note: These categories may vary slightly for different populations.

4. Using the Calculator

Instructions: Enter your weight in kilograms and height in meters. For height, you can convert from cm to m by dividing by 100 (e.g., 175 cm = 1.75 m).

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: Is BMI accurate for everyone?
A: BMI is a useful screening tool but doesn't directly measure body fat. It may overestimate body fat in muscular individuals and underestimate it in older people with less muscle mass.

Q2: Why is BMI important?
A: Higher BMI is associated with increased risk of health problems like heart disease, diabetes, and certain cancers.

Q3: Are there different BMI categories for men and women?
A: The categories are the same, but body composition differs between genders at the same BMI.

Q4: What's a healthy BMI range for men?
A: Generally 18.5-24.9, though individual factors like muscle mass should be considered.

Q5: Should athletes use BMI?
A: Very muscular athletes may have high BMI without excess fat. Additional measurements like waist circumference may be more appropriate.