1. What is BMI?

Body Mass Index (BMI) is a person's weight in kilograms divided by the square of height in meters. BMI is an inexpensive and easy screening method for weight category—underweight, healthy weight, overweight, and obesity.

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 correlates fairly well with body fat percentage for most people, though it has limitations for athletes and certain populations.

3. Importance of BMI Calculation

Details: BMI provides a simple numeric measure that can help identify potential weight problems in adults. High BMI can indicate high body fatness, while low BMI may indicate insufficient body weight.

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

Q2: Why is this called "CDC Childrens" calculator when used for adults?
A: The CDC primarily developed this method for children's growth tracking, but the same formula applies to adults with different interpretation thresholds.

Q3: What are the limitations of BMI?
A: BMI doesn't directly measure body fat and can misclassify muscular individuals as overweight or obese. It also doesn't account for fat distribution.

Q4: Is BMI different for men and women?
A: The calculation is the same, but women typically have higher body fat percentages at the same BMI compared to men.

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