1. What is BMI?

Body Mass Index (BMI) is a simple calculation using a person's height and weight to estimate body fat. The formula is BMI = 703 × weight (lb) / [height (in)]². It's a screening tool to identify potential weight problems in adults.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the standard BMI formula:

Where:

• \( weight \) — Body weight in pounds (lb)
• \( height \) — Height in inches (in)
• 703 — Conversion factor (kg/m² to lb/in²)

Explanation: The formula compares your weight to your height squared to estimate body fatness.

3. Importance of BMI Calculation

Details: BMI helps screen for weight categories that may lead to health problems, but it doesn't diagnose body fatness or health directly. It's a quick, inexpensive method for population assessment.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter weight in pounds and height in inches. For accurate results, measure height without shoes and weight with minimal clothing.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What are the BMI categories?
A: Underweight (<18.5), Normal weight (18.5-24.9), Overweight (25-29.9), Obese (≥30).

Q2: Is BMI accurate for everyone?
A: BMI may overestimate body fat in athletes and underestimate it in older people with lost muscle mass.

Q3: Should children use this calculator?
A: No, children need age- and sex-specific BMI percentiles rather than adult categories.

Q4: What's a healthy BMI range?
A: For most adults, 18.5 to 24.9 is considered healthy, but individual factors matter.

Q5: What's better than BMI?
A: Waist circumference, skinfold thickness, and advanced imaging provide better fat estimates but are more complex.