1. What is BMI?

Body Mass Index (BMI) is a simple index of weight-for-height that is commonly used to classify underweight, normal weight, overweight and obesity in adults. It is calculated by dividing a person's weight in kilograms by the square of their height in meters.

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: The formula provides a simple numeric measure of a person's thickness or thinness, allowing health professionals to discuss weight problems objectively with their patients.

3. Importance of BMI Calculation

Details: BMI is an inexpensive and easy-to-perform screening tool for weight category (underweight, normal weight, overweight, and obesity). It correlates moderately well with direct measures of body fatness and is strongly correlated with various metabolic and disease outcomes.

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: What are the BMI categories for Canadian adults?
A: Underweight (<18.5), Normal weight (18.5-24.9), Overweight (25.0-29.9), Obese (≥30.0).

Q2: How does BMI differ for children?
A: For children and teens, BMI is age- and sex-specific and is referred to as BMI-for-age.

Q3: What are limitations of BMI?
A: BMI doesn't distinguish between muscle and fat mass, so athletes may have high BMI without excess fat. It also doesn't account for fat distribution.

Q4: How accurate is BMI for different ethnic groups?
A: Some ethnic groups may have different associations between BMI and health risks at the same BMI level.

Q5: What was the average BMI in Canada in 2019?
A: According to Statistics Canada, the average BMI for Canadian adults in 2019 was approximately 27.3 kg/m².