1. What is BMI?

Body Mass Index (BMI) is a simple index of weight-for-height that is commonly used to classify underweight, normal weight, overweight and obesity in adults. It is defined as the weight in kilograms divided by the square of the height in meters (kg/m²).

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the BMI formula:

Where:

• \( weight \) — Body weight in kilograms (kg)
• \( height \) — Height in meters (m)

Explanation: The 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.

3. Importance of BMI Calculation

Details: BMI is a simple, inexpensive, and noninvasive surrogate measure of body fat. While BMI doesn't measure body fat directly, research has shown that BMI correlates to direct measures of body fat.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter weight in kilograms, height in meters. Age is optional but can help with more accurate interpretation of results for children and elderly.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What is a healthy BMI range?
A: For adults, a BMI between 18.5 and 24.9 is considered healthy. Below 18.5 is underweight, 25-29.9 is overweight, and 30+ is obese.

Q2: Does BMI apply to everyone?
A: BMI may overestimate body fat in athletes and others with muscular builds and may underestimate body fat in older persons who have lost muscle mass.

Q3: How does age affect BMI interpretation?
A: For children and teens, BMI is age- and sex-specific and is often referred to as BMI-for-age. For adults, BMI interpretation is generally the same for all ages.

Q4: Are there limitations to BMI?
A: BMI doesn't account for muscle mass, bone density, overall body composition, and racial and sex differences. It's just one screening tool among many.

Q5: Should athletes worry about high BMI?
A: Athletes with high muscle mass may have a high BMI that falls into overweight or obese categories without having excess body fat.