1. What is BMI?

BMI (Body Mass Index) 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 provides a numeric value that helps categorize a person as underweight, normal weight, overweight, or obese.

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 formula divides a person's weight by the square of their height to produce a value that can be categorized.

3. Importance of BMI Calculation

Details: BMI is a simple screening tool that can indicate whether a person is underweight, normal weight, overweight, or obese. While it doesn't measure body fat directly, it correlates with more direct measures of body fat.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter weight in kilograms and height in meters. For height in centimeters, divide by 100 (e.g., 175 cm = 1.75 m). All values must be valid (weight > 0, height > 0).

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What are the BMI categories?
A: Underweight (BMI < 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 who have lost muscle mass.

Q3: What's a healthy BMI range?
A: For most adults, 18.5 to 24.9 is considered healthy.

Q4: Should children use this calculator?
A: Children's BMI is interpreted differently, using age and sex-specific percentile charts.

Q5: What are the limitations of BMI?
A: BMI doesn't account for muscle mass, bone density, overall body composition, or racial/ethnic differences.