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BMI Formula:
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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. BMI provides a reliable indicator of body fatness for most people and is used to screen for weight categories that may lead to health problems.
The calculator uses the standard BMI formula:
Where:
Explanation: BMI is calculated by dividing weight in kilograms by height in meters squared. The result places you in one of four categories: underweight, normal weight, overweight, or obese.
Details: BMI is a simple, inexpensive screening method for weight category—underweight, healthy weight, overweight, and obesity. While BMI doesn't measure body fat directly, research has shown that BMI correlates to more direct measures of body fat.
Tips: Enter weight in kilograms and height in meters. For women, BMI interpretation is the same as for men, though body composition differences mean women typically have more body fat than men at the same BMI.
Q1: What is a healthy BMI for women?
A: For adult women, a BMI between 18.5 and 24.9 is considered healthy. Below 18.5 is underweight, 25-29.9 is overweight, and 30+ is obese.
Q2: Is BMI different for women and men?
A: The calculation is the same, but women naturally have more body fat than men at the same BMI. The same BMI categories apply to both genders.
Q3: How accurate is BMI for women?
A: BMI is a useful screening tool but has limitations. It may overestimate body fat in athletic/muscular women and underestimate it in older women who have lost muscle mass.
Q4: Should pregnant women use BMI?
A: BMI calculations during pregnancy aren't meaningful because weight gain is expected. Use pre-pregnancy BMI to determine healthy weight gain targets.
Q5: What are alternatives to BMI?
A: Waist circumference, waist-to-hip ratio, and body fat percentage measurements can provide additional information about health risks.