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BMI Formula:
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Body Mass Index (BMI) is a simple index of weight-for-height that is commonly used to classify underweight, overweight and obesity in adults. It is defined as a person's weight in kilograms divided by the square of their height in meters (kg/m²).
The calculator uses the standard BMI formula:
Where:
Interpretation: The result is compared against standard BMI categories:
Details: BMI provides a simple numeric measure of a person's thickness or thinness, allowing health professionals to discuss weight problems more objectively with their patients. While not a direct measure of body fat, BMI correlates well with more direct measures of body fat.
Tips: Enter 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). All values must be valid (weight > 0, height > 0).
Q1: Is BMI accurate for everyone?
A: BMI may not be accurate for athletes (who may have high muscle mass), pregnant women, the elderly, or children. Other measurements like waist circumference may provide additional information.
Q2: What are the health risks associated with high BMI?
A: Higher BMI is associated with increased risk of heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, certain cancers, and other health conditions.
Q3: What's a healthy BMI range?
A: For most adults, a healthy BMI is between 18.5 and 24.9. However, optimal BMI may vary by age, sex, and ethnicity.
Q4: Can BMI be used for children?
A: BMI for children is calculated differently, using percentiles based on age and sex-specific growth charts.
Q5: Are there alternatives to BMI?
A: Other measures include waist-to-hip ratio, body fat percentage measurements, and more advanced techniques like DEXA scans.