1. What is BMI?

Body Mass Index (BMI) is a simple calculation using a person's height and weight to assess body fatness. It's a screening tool that may indicate whether a person is underweight, normal weight, overweight, or obese.

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 divides weight by the square of height to provide a standardized measure of body mass relative to height.

3. Importance of BMI Calculation

Details: BMI is widely used to screen for weight categories that may lead to health problems. It's a quick, inexpensive method that correlates with body fat for most people.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter weight in kilograms and height in meters. For pounds and inches, convert first (1 kg = 2.2 lbs, 1 m = 39.37 inches).

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What is a normal 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: Is BMI different for women and men?
A: The same BMI ranges apply to both genders, though women naturally have more body fat than men at the same BMI.

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

Q4: Is BMI accurate for pregnant women?
A: No, BMI should not be calculated during pregnancy as weight gain is expected and necessary for fetal development.

Q5: Should children use this calculator?
A: No, children need age- and sex-specific BMI percentiles rather than the adult categories.