1. What is BMI?

Body Mass Index (BMI) is a simple calculation using a person's height and weight. It provides a reliable indicator of body fatness for most people and is used to screen for weight categories that may lead to health problems.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the standard BMI formula:

Where:

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

Explanation: The formula divides a person's weight in kilograms by the square of their height in meters.

3. Importance of BMI Calculation

Details: BMI is a simple, inexpensive screening method for weight category—underweight, healthy weight, overweight, and obesity. It correlates with more direct measures of body fat and is strongly associated with various metabolic and disease outcomes.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter weight in kilograms, height in meters. Age and gender are optional factors that can help provide more context for the interpretation of your BMI result.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What is a healthy BMI range?
A: For adults, 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: Does BMI apply to everyone?
A: BMI may overestimate body fat in athletes and those with muscular build, and underestimate body fat in older persons who have lost muscle mass.

Q3: How does age affect BMI interpretation?
A: For children and teens, BMI is age- and sex-specific. For adults over 65, slightly higher BMI may be protective.

Q4: Are there gender differences in BMI?
A: Women tend to have more body fat than men at the same BMI. The healthy range is the same for both genders.

Q5: What are the limitations of BMI?
A: BMI doesn't measure body fat directly, doesn't account for muscle mass, bone density, or fat distribution, and may not be accurate for all ethnic groups.