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. It provides a simple numeric measure of a person's thickness or thinness.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the standard BMI formula:

Where:

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

Explanation: The calculator also incorporates waist measurement to provide a more comprehensive health risk assessment, as waist circumference is an independent predictor of health risks.

3. Importance of Waist Measurement

Details: Waist circumference is a better indicator of abdominal fat and associated health risks than BMI alone. A high waist circumference increases the risk of type 2 diabetes, dyslipidemia, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter weight in kilograms, height in meters, and waist circumference in centimeters. For accurate results, measure waist at the midpoint between the lower rib and the top of the hip bone.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What is a healthy BMI range?
A: 18.5-24.9 is considered normal weight, 25-29.9 overweight, and 30+ obese. However, these ranges may vary by ethnicity.

Q2: Why include waist measurement?
A: Waist measurement helps identify abdominal obesity which is a greater health risk than fat stored elsewhere.

Q3: What's a healthy waist circumference?
A: For men, <102 cm (40 in); for women, <88 cm (35 in). Higher values indicate increased health risks.

Q4: Are there limitations to BMI?
A: 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.

Q5: Should children use this calculator?
A: No, children need age- and sex-specific BMI percentiles rather than adult categories.