1. What is BMI?

BMI (Body Mass Index) is a simple index of weight-for-height that is commonly used to classify underweight, normal weight, overweight and obesity in adults. The normal range is between 18.5 and 24.9 kg/m².

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the standard BMI formula:

Where:

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

Interpretation:

• Underweight: BMI < 18.5 kg/m²
• Normal weight: BMI 18.5-24.9 kg/m²
• Overweight: BMI 25-29.9 kg/m²
• Obese: BMI ≥ 30 kg/m²

3. Importance of BMI Calculation

Details: BMI provides a simple numeric measure of a person's thickness or thinness, allowing health professionals to discuss weight problems objectively with their patients. While not a direct measure of body fat, it correlates well with more direct measures of body fat.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter weight in kilograms and height in meters. For height, you can convert from cm to m by dividing by 100 (e.g., 175 cm = 1.75 m). All values must be valid (weight > 0, height > 0).

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: Is BMI accurate for everyone?
A: BMI may not accurately reflect body fat in muscular individuals, athletes, or elderly who may have lost muscle mass.

Q2: What is a healthy BMI range?
A: For most adults, 18.5 to 24.9 is considered healthy. However, optimal BMI may vary by age, sex, and ethnicity.

Q3: Should children use this calculator?
A: No, children and teens need age- and sex-specific BMI percentiles rather than these adult categories.

Q4: Are there better measures than BMI?
A: Waist circumference, waist-to-hip ratio, or body fat percentage may provide additional information about health risks.

Q5: Why is normal weight important?
A: Maintaining a BMI in the normal range is associated with lower risks of many health problems including heart disease, diabetes, and certain cancers.