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 metric BMI formula:

Where:

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

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

3. Importance of BMI Calculation

Details: BMI is a useful screening tool to identify potential weight problems in adults. While it doesn't measure body fat directly, research has shown that BMI correlates 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 centimeters by dividing by 100 (e.g., 175 cm = 1.75 m).

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

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

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

Q3: What is a healthy BMI range?
A: For most adults, a healthy range is 18.5 to 24.9, though this may vary by ethnicity and other factors.

Q4: Should children use this calculator?
A: No, children and teens need BMI-for-age percentiles that account for growth patterns and sex differences.

Q5: What's better than BMI for measuring health?
A: Waist circumference, body fat percentage, and other measurements combined with BMI give a more complete picture.