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 BMI formula:

Where:

• \( weight \) — Body weight in kilograms (kg)
• \( height \) — Height in feet (ft)
• \( 0.3048 \) — Conversion factor from feet to meters

Explanation: The formula converts height from feet to meters (by multiplying by 0.3048) and then calculates weight divided by height squared.

3. Importance of BMI Calculation

Details: BMI is a simple screening tool to identify possible weight problems in adults. It can indicate whether a person is underweight, normal weight, overweight, or obese.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter weight in kilograms and height in feet. All values must be valid (weight > 0, height > 0).

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

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

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

Q3: Why convert height to meters?
A: The standard BMI unit is kg/m², so height must be in meters to match the weight in kilograms.

Q4: Can BMI be used for children?
A: BMI for children is calculated differently, using percentiles based on age and sex.

Q5: What are limitations of BMI?
A: BMI doesn't distinguish between muscle and fat, and doesn't account for fat distribution.