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

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the standard BMI formula:

Where:

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

Explanation: BMI is calculated by dividing weight by the square of height. This adjustment for height allows comparison of weight status among people of different heights.

3. Importance of BMI Calculation

Details: BMI provides a simple numeric measure that healthcare providers can use to screen for weight categories that may lead to health problems.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter weight in kilograms and height in meters. All values must be valid (weight > 0, height > 0).

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

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

Q2: Are there limitations to BMI?
A: BMI doesn't directly measure body fat and may misclassify muscular individuals as overweight or fail to detect excess fat in older people with muscle loss.

Q3: Is BMI different for children?
A: Yes, children's BMI is age- and sex-specific and is expressed as a percentile relative to peers.

Q4: What's a healthy BMI range for adults?
A: For most adults, 18.5 to 24.9 is considered healthy.

Q5: Should athletes use BMI?
A: Athletes with high muscle mass may have high BMI without excess fat. Additional measures like body fat percentage may be more appropriate.