1. What is BMI?

Body Mass Index (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.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the standard BMI formula for imperial units:

Where:

• \( weight \) — Weight in pounds (lb)
• \( height \) — Height in inches (in)
• 703 — Conversion factor for imperial units

Explanation: The formula calculates body mass per unit of height squared, adjusted for imperial units.

3. Importance of BMI Calculation

Details: BMI is used to screen for weight categories that may lead to health problems. It's a simple, inexpensive method to assess whether someone is underweight, normal weight, overweight, or obese.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter weight in pounds, height in feet and inches. All values must be valid (weight > 0, height > 0). For most accurate results, measure weight without heavy clothing and height without shoes.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

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

Q2: Is BMI accurate for everyone?
A: BMI may overestimate body fat in athletes and underestimate it in older people with lost muscle mass.

Q3: Why use imperial units?
A: This calculator uses pounds and inches as commonly used in the United States. For metric units, use kg and meters.

Q4: How often should I check my BMI?
A: For most adults, checking every few months is sufficient unless undergoing significant weight changes.

Q5: Does BMI apply to children?
A: Children's BMI is interpreted differently using age and sex-specific percentiles rather than fixed categories.