BMI Calculator

Calculate your body mass index based off your height in inches squared and weight in pounds.

BMI Weight Status Categories

How is BMI Measured?

Body mass index is measured with this equation: 703 multiplied by weight and then divided by heigh in inches squared. BMI is an easy way to assess your personal weight status, but is also a tool for healthcare professions to evaluate potential health risks. Although BMI does not measure body fat directly, it is correlated with more direct measures of body fat.

Is BMI a Good Measure of Body Fat and Health?

Since BMI does not take into account different factors of the body such as muscle mass, skeletal composition, sex, age, or race, it is not a proper measure of overall health. Some common discrepancies in people with the same BMI:

• At the same BMI, women tend to have more body fat than men
• At the same BMI, the amount of body fat may be higher or lower depending on ethnic group
• At the same BMI, older people, on average, tend to have higher body fat than young adults
• At the same BMI, athletes have less body fat than non-athletes

BMI can easily be an indicator of lean muscle mass percentage in the same way in can indicate a high body fat percentage. For a more thorough and proper assessment, visit your doctor to assess health status and potential health risks.

For more information on the risks of obesity, visit: https://www.cdc.gov/obesity/basics/causes