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 standard BMI formula:

Where:

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

Explanation: The formula 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 provides the most useful population-level measure of overweight and obesity as it is the same for both sexes and for all ages of adults. However, it should be considered a rough guide because it may not correspond to the same degree of fatness in different individuals.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter weight in kilograms and height in meters. For example, for someone who is 175 cm tall and weighs 68 kg, enter 1.75 for height and 68 for weight.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What are the 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 not be accurate for athletes (who may have high BMI due to muscle mass) or elderly (who may have normal BMI but reduced muscle mass).

Q3: How often should I check my BMI?
A: For most adults, checking BMI once or twice a year is sufficient unless you're actively trying to change your weight.

Q4: Can children use this calculator?
A: This calculator is for adults. Children's BMI should be interpreted using age- and sex-specific percentiles.

Q5: What's the Python code for BMI calculation?
A: In Google Colab, you can use:
weight = float(input("Enter weight in kg: "))
height = float(input("Enter height in meters: "))
bmi = weight / (height ** 2)
print(f"Your BMI is: {bmi:.1f}")