BMI Formula:
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Body Mass Index (BMI) is a simple calculation using a person's height and weight. The formula is BMI = kg/m² where kg is a person's weight in kilograms and m² is their height in meters squared. It provides a reliable indicator of body fatness for most people.
The calculator uses the standard BMI formula:
Where:
Explanation: BMI is calculated by dividing weight in kilograms by the square of height in meters.
Details: 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.
Tips: Enter weight in kilograms and height in meters. All values must be valid (weight > 0, height > 0).
Q1: What is a healthy BMI range?
A: For adults, 18.5-24.9 is considered normal weight, 25-29.9 overweight, and 30+ obese.
Q2: Are there limitations to BMI?
A: BMI doesn't account for muscle mass, bone density, or fat distribution. Athletes may have high BMI without excess fat.
Q3: Can BMI be used for children?
A: Children's BMI is interpreted differently using age and sex-specific percentiles rather than fixed ranges.
Q4: How accurate is BMI?
A: BMI correlates well with body fat for most people but may misclassify muscular individuals or those with very different body compositions.
Q5: What are alternatives to BMI?
A: Waist circumference, skinfold thickness measurements, or more advanced techniques like DEXA scans may provide more accurate body composition analysis.