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. 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 kilograms
• \( height \) — Height in meters

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 provides a simple numeric measure of a person's thickness or thinness, allowing health professionals to discuss weight problems more objectively with their patients. It's used to screen for weight categories that may lead to health problems.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter weight in kilograms and height in meters. For most accurate results, measure weight in the morning after using the bathroom and before eating.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

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

Q2: Is BMI different for women than men?
A: The same BMI ranges apply to both genders, but women tend to have more body fat than men at the same BMI.

Q3: What are limitations of BMI?
A: BMI doesn't distinguish between muscle and fat, so athletes may be classified as overweight. It also doesn't account for fat distribution.

Q4: What is a healthy BMI for Canadian women?
A: 18.5 to 24.9 is considered healthy, though individual factors like muscle mass and frame size should be considered.

Q5: Should BMI be used alone to assess health?
A: No, it should be used with other assessments like waist circumference, diet, and physical activity levels.