1. What is BMI?

Body Mass Index (BMI) is a simple calculation using a person's height and weight. The formula is BMI = kg/m² where kg is a person's weight in kilograms and m² is their height in meters squared. BMI provides a reliable indicator of body fatness for most people.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the standard BMI formula:

Where:

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

Explanation: The formula divides weight by the square of height to account for the fact that weight increases with the square of height.

3. Importance of BMI Calculation

Details: BMI is a simple, inexpensive screening tool for weight categories that may lead to health problems. It's used to screen for weight categories that may lead to health problems but is not diagnostic of body fatness or health.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter weight in kilograms, height in meters, and age in years. All values must be valid (weight > 0, height > 0, age between 1-120).

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

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

Q2: Is BMI interpretation different for children?
A: Yes, BMI for children is age and sex-specific and is plotted on growth charts.

Q3: What are limitations of BMI?
A: BMI doesn't distinguish between muscle and fat, so athletes may have high BMI without excess fat. It may underestimate body fat in older people.

Q4: How often should BMI be checked?
A: For adults, annual checks are reasonable unless monitoring weight changes. Children should be tracked on growth charts at regular visits.

Q5: Are there better measures than BMI?
A: Waist circumference, skinfold thickness, and more advanced techniques like DEXA scans can provide more detailed body composition analysis.