1. What is BMI?

Body Mass Index (BMI) is a value derived from the mass and height of a person. The BMI is defined as the body mass divided by the square of the body height, and is universally expressed in units of kg/m².

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the standard BMI formula:

Where:

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

BMI Percentage: The calculator also provides an approximate BMI percentage (percentile) which compares the calculated BMI to a reference population.

3. Understanding BMI Percentage

Details: BMI percentage (percentile) is particularly useful for children and adolescents, indicating how a child's BMI compares to others of the same age and sex. For adults, it provides a general comparison to standard BMI categories.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter weight in kilograms and height in meters. For accurate results, measure height without shoes and weight with minimal clothing.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What is a healthy BMI range?
A: For adults, 18.5-24.9 is considered normal weight. Below 18.5 is underweight, 25-29.9 is overweight, and 30+ is obese.

Q2: How accurate is the BMI percentage?
A: The percentage shown is an approximation. For children, actual percentiles should be determined using age- and sex-specific growth charts.

Q3: When should BMI be measured?
A: BMI is most accurate when measured under consistent conditions (same time of day, similar clothing, etc.).

Q4: Are there limitations to BMI?
A: BMI doesn't distinguish between muscle and fat, so it may overestimate body fat in muscular individuals and underestimate it in older people with less muscle mass.

Q5: Should BMI be used alone for health assessment?
A: No, BMI should be used alongside other measurements like waist circumference and body composition analysis for a complete picture.