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. For adult men, percentiles are less commonly used than the standard BMI categories.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the standard BMI formula:

Where:

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

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 simple, inexpensive screening tool for weight categories that may lead to health problems. While it doesn't measure body fat directly, research has shown BMI to be correlated with more direct measures of body fat.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter weight in kilograms and height in meters. All values must be valid (weight > 0, height > 0). For most accurate results, measure height without shoes and weight in light clothing.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

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

Q2: Why are percentiles less common for adult men?
A: Percentiles are primarily used for children and teens. For adults, fixed BMI categories are more commonly used.

Q3: What are the limitations of BMI?
A: BMI doesn't distinguish between muscle and fat, so muscular individuals may have high BMI without excess fat. It also doesn't account for fat distribution.

Q4: Is BMI different for men and women?
A: The same BMI categories apply to both men and women, though women tend to have more body fat than men at the same BMI.

Q5: Should athletes use BMI?
A: Athletes with high muscle mass may want to use additional measures like body fat percentage, as BMI may overestimate their body fat.