1. What is BMI?

Body Mass Index (BMI) is a person's weight in kilograms divided by the square of height in meters. It's a simple screening tool for weight categories that may lead to health problems.

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 calculates body mass per unit of body surface area, providing a standardized measure of body composition.

3. Importance of BMI Calculation

Details: BMI is used to screen for weight categories that may lead to health problems, but it's not diagnostic of body fatness or health.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter weight in kilograms and height in meters. For pounds and inches, convert first (1 kg = 2.2 lbs, 1 m = 39.37 inches).

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: 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: No, children need age- and sex-specific BMI percentiles.

Q5: What are alternatives to BMI?
A: Waist circumference, skinfold thickness, and DEXA scans provide more direct measures of body fat.