1. What is Body Mass Index (BMI)?

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, allowing health professionals to discuss weight problems objectively with their patients.

2. How Does the BMI 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 in kilograms by the square of height in meters.

3. Importance of BMI Calculation

Details: BMI is a simple, inexpensive screening method for weight category - underweight, healthy weight, overweight, and obesity. It helps assess risk for diseases that can occur with more body fat.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter weight in kilograms, height in meters, and select gender. 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: Does BMI differ between men and women?
A: The calculation is the same, but interpretation may vary slightly as women typically have higher body fat percentages at the same BMI.

Q3: What are limitations of BMI?
A: BMI doesn't directly measure body fat and doesn't account for muscle mass, bone density, overall body composition, or racial/sex differences.

Q4: Is BMI accurate for athletes?
A: BMI may overestimate body fat in athletes with high muscle mass and underestimate it in older people who have lost muscle.

Q5: Should children use this calculator?
A: Children's BMI is interpreted differently using age- and sex-specific percentiles, not adult categories.