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 defined as a person's weight in kilograms divided by the square of their height in meters (kg/m²).

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the standard BMI formula:

Where:

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

3. Importance of BMI Calculation

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.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter weight in kilograms and height in meters. For accuracy, measure weight without heavy clothing and height without shoes.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What is a healthy 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 accurate for everyone?
A: BMI may not accurately reflect body fat in athletes (who may have high muscle mass) or elderly (who may have lost muscle mass).

Q3: Why track calculation time?
A: Tracking time helps monitor changes in BMI over time when keeping records of measurements.

Q4: Can I use pounds and inches?
A: The calculator uses metric units. To use imperial units: [weight (lbs) / [height (in)]²] × 703.

Q5: Should children use this calculator?
A: Children's BMI is interpreted differently using age- and sex-specific percentiles rather than these fixed categories.