1. What is BMI?

Body Mass Index (BMI) is a measure of body fat based on height and weight that applies to adult men and women. For children and teens, BMI is age- and sex-specific and is often referred to as BMI-for-age.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the BMI formula:

Where:

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

Explanation: 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 used to screen for weight categories that may lead to health problems but it is not diagnostic of body fatness or health. It's a quick and easy method for population assessment of weight status.

4. Using the Calculator

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

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What is a healthy BMI range?
A: For adults, 18.5 to 24.9 is considered healthy. For children, consult age- and sex-specific growth charts.

Q2: Are there limitations to BMI?
A: Yes. BMI doesn't distinguish between muscle and fat, so athletes may have high BMI without excess fat. It also doesn't account for fat distribution.

Q3: How often should I check my BMI?
A: For adults, periodic checks (every 6-12 months) are sufficient unless you're actively trying to change your weight.

Q4: Is BMI different for children?
A: Yes. Children's BMI is plotted on growth charts to determine percentile for age and sex rather than using fixed categories.

Q5: What's better than BMI for measuring health?
A: Waist circumference, body fat percentage, and other measurements combined with blood tests give a fuller health picture.