Body Mass Index (BMI) is a simple tool that relates your height and weight to estimate body fat. It’s widely used to check whether you fall in a healthy weight range. Knowing your BMI not only helps you track fitness but also plays a role in areas like health and life insurance. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the importance of BMI, how the BMI calculator works, and the ideal BMI for men and women.
What is Body Mass Index (BMI)?
Body Mass Index (BMI) is a measure of body fat determined based on a person's height and weight. You can calculate BMI by dividing a person's weight in kilograms by their height in metres squared. BMI can be easily determined using a BMI calculator for males and females, which is available online or through a healthcare provider. This simple tool helps individuals gauge whether they are within a healthy weight range, potentially guiding lifestyle adjustments for improved health.
Why use a BMI calculator?
A BMI (Body Mass Index) calculator is a practical tool designed to help individuals assess whether their weight is in a healthy range based on their height and weight. It serves as a starting point for understanding potential health risks and making informed decisions about your fitness and well-being. Below are the key reasons to use a BMI calculator:
1. Evaluate health risks:
A BMI score can indicate potential health risks, such as obesity, diabetes, heart disease, and hypertension, helping you take preventive measures.
2. Track weight management:
Whether you're aiming to lose, gain, or maintain weight, a BMI calculator helps set realistic goals and track progress over time.
3. Easy to use:
With just your height and weight, the calculator provides an instant evaluation of your weight status, making it accessible and simple for everyone.
4. Promote healthy lifestyle:
Understanding your BMI can encourage adopting healthier eating habits, regular exercise, and overall wellness improvements.
5. Monitor long-term health:
Regular BMI checks can help monitor your weight over time, ensuring that you're staying within a healthy range and minimizing long-term health risks.
How to calculate BMI?
You can calculate your BMI by using the BMI calculator online. Most insurance companies provide a BMI calculator on their website or app to help you determine your BMI. To calculate your BMI, start by knowing your weight and height. Once you have these measurements, follow these two steps:
Multiply your height by itself (height x height).
Divide your weight by the value obtained in the first step.
Here’s the formula for calculating BMI:
To calculate BMI, use the following BMI calculator formulas:
International System of Units (SI) |
Imperial System |
BMI = weight (kg) ÷ (height (m))2 Example: For a 188 cm (1.88 m) individual weighing 70 kg, BMI = 70 / (1.88 * 1.88) = 70/ 3.53 = 19.83 |
BMI = weight (lb) ÷ (height (inches))2 × 703 Example: For a 150-pound, 5’5” (50”) individual, BMI = (150/ 50*50) * 703 = (150/2500) * 703 = 42.18
|
What are the health risks related to being overweight?
Increased likelihood of developing heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, stroke, and joint problems, along with reduced overall well-being are the common risks associated with being overweight. Discussed below are the risks associated with being overweight:
- Type 2 diabetes
- Hernia
- Heart conditions
- Varicose veins
- Higher levels of LDL cholesterol and lower count of HDL cholesterol in the blood
- Cataract
- High triglycerides
- Gout
- Stroke Stress incontinence or urge to urinate frequently
- High blood pressure
- Certain types of cancer (breast, colon, endometrial, etc.)
- Gall bladder-related complications
- Clinical depression and other mental health issues
- Insulin resistance
- Poly-cystic ovarian disease in women
- Osteoarthritis or breakdown of joint cartilage
- Skin health problems like skin tags, darkening of the skin
- Sleep apnea or intermittent breathing obstruction during sleep
- Breathing trouble
- Atherosclerosis or the building up of cholesterol deposits in arteries
What are the risks of being underweight?
Not just being overweight but being underweight can also significantly impact your health. The categorisation of underweight as per the BMI calculator is less than 18.5kg for adults. Given below are the risks of being underweight:
- Nutrient deficiency
- Malnutrition
- Weakened immune system
- Developmental delays in children
- Osteoporosis
- Hormonal imbalance
- Menstrual irregularities
- Fatigue
- Fertility issues
- Organ dysfunction
- Muscle waiting
- Increased mortality risk
- Impaired cognitive function
- Anaemia
BMI table for adults
The Body Mass Index (BMI) helps classify weight categories based on height and weight. Use the table below to understand where you fall in the BMI range:
Classification |
BMI Range (kg/m²) |
Severe Thinness |
< 16 |
Moderate Thinness |
16 – 17 |
Mild Thinness |
17 – 18.5 |
Normal |
18.5 – 25 |
Overweight |
25 – 30 |
Obese Class I |
30 – 35 |
Obese Class II |
35 – 40 |
Obese Class III |
> 40 |
BMI chart
A BMI calculator helps you determine your Body Mass Index based on your height and weight. Use the BMI chart given below to check if you're underweight, normal, overweight, or obese for better health management.
BMI Indexes |
Kgs |
45.5 |
47.5 |
50 |
52.3 |
54.5 |
56.8 |
59.1 |
61.4 |
63.6 |
65.9 |
68.2 |
70.5 |
72.7 |
75 |
77.3 |
79.5 |
81.8 |
84.1 |
86.4 |
88.6 |
90.9 |
93.2 |
95.5 |
97.7 |
||||||
Lbs |
100 |
105 |
110 |
115 |
120 |
125 |
130 |
135 |
140 |
145 |
150 |
155 |
160 |
165 |
170 |
175 |
180 |
185 |
190 |
195 |
200 |
205 |
210 |
215 |
|||||||
in |
cm |
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
5'0" |
152.4 |
|
19 |
20 |
21 |
22 |
23 |
24 |
25 |
26 |
27 |
28 |
29 |
30 |
31 |
32 |
33 |
34 |
35 |
36 |
37 |
38 |
39 |
40 |
41 |
42 |
|||||
5'1" |
154.9 |
18 |
19 |
20 |
21 |
22 |
23 |
24 |
25 |
26 |
27 |
28 |
29 |
30 |
31 |
32 |
33 |
34 |
35 |
36 |
36 |
37 |
38 |
39 |
40 |
||||||
5'2" |
157.4 |
18 |
19 |
20 |
21 |
22 |
22 |
23 |
24 |
25 |
26 |
27 |
28 |
29 |
30 |
31 |
32 |
33 |
33 |
34 |
35 |
36 |
37 |
38 |
39 |
||||||
5'3" |
160 |
17 |
18 |
19 |
20 |
21 |
22 |
23 |
24 |
24 |
25 |
26 |
27 |
28 |
29 |
30 |
31 |
31 |
32 |
33 |
34 |
35 |
36 |
37 |
38 |
||||||
5'4" |
162.5 |
17 |
18 |
18 |
19 |
20 |
21 |
22 |
23 |
24 |
24 |
25 |
26 |
27 |
28 |
29 |
30 |
31 |
31 |
32 |
33 |
34 |
35 |
36 |
37 |
||||||
5'5" |
165.1 |
16 |
17 |
18 |
19 |
20 |
21 |
22 |
23 |
24 |
25 |
25 |
26 |
27 |
28 |
29 |
30 |
31 |
32 |
33 |
34 |
35 |
36 |
37 |
38 |
||||||
5'6" |
167.6 |
16 |
17 |
17 |
18 |
19 |
20 |
21 |
21 |
22 |
23 |
24 |
25 |
25 |
26 |
27 |
28 |
29 |
29 |
30 |
31 |
32 |
33 |
34 |
34 |
||||||
5'7" |
170.1 |
15 |
16 |
17 |
18 |
19 |
19 |
20 |
21 |
22 |
22 |
23 |
24 |
25 |
25 |
26 |
27 |
28 |
28 |
29 |
30 |
31 |
32 |
33 |
33 |
||||||
5'8" |
172.7 |
15 |
16 |
16 |
17 |
18 |
19 |
19 |
20 |
21 |
22 |
22 |
23 |
24 |
25 |
25 |
26 |
27 |
28 |
28 |
29 |
30 |
31 |
32 |
32 |
||||||
5'9" |
175.2 |
14 |
15 |
16 |
17 |
17 |
18 |
19 |
20 |
20 |
21 |
22 |
22 |
23 |
24 |
25 |
25 |
26 |
27 |
28 |
28 |
29 |
30 |
31 |
31 |
||||||
5'10" |
177.8 |
14 |
15 |
15 |
16 |
17 |
18 |
18 |
19 |
20 |
20 |
21 |
22 |
23 |
23 |
24 |
25 |
25 |
26 |
27 |
28 |
28 |
29 |
30 |
30 |
||||||
5'11" |
180.3 |
14 |
14 |
15 |
16 |
16 |
17 |
18 |
18 |
19 |
20 |
21 |
21 |
22 |
23 |
23 |
24 |
25 |
25 |
26 |
27 |
28 |
28 |
29 |
30 |
||||||
6'0" |
182.8 |
13 |
14 |
14 |
15 |
16 |
17 |
17 |
18 |
19 |
19 |
20 |
21 |
21 |
22 |
23 |
23 |
24 |
25 |
25 |
26 |
27 |
27 |
28 |
29 |
||||||
6'1" |
185.4 |
13 |
13 |
14 |
15 |
15 |
16 |
17 |
17 |
18 |
19 |
19 |
20 |
21 |
21 |
22 |
23 |
23 |
24 |
25 |
25 |
26 |
27 |
27 |
28 |
||||||
6'2" |
187.9 |
12 |
13 |
14 |
14 |
15 |
16 |
16 |
17 |
18 |
18 |
19 |
19 |
20 |
21 |
21 |
22 |
23 |
23 |
24 |
25 |
25 |
26 |
27 |
27 |
||||||
6'3" |
190.5 |
12 |
13 |
13 |
14 |
15 |
15 |
16 |
16 |
17 |
18 |
18 |
19 |
20 |
20 |
21 |
21 |
22 |
23 |
23 |
24 |
25 |
25 |
26 |
26 |
||||||
6'4" |
193 |
12 |
12 |
13 |
14 |
14 |
15 |
15 |
16 |
17 |
17 |
18 |
18 |
19 |
20 |
20 |
21 |
22 |
22 |
23 |
23 |
24 |
25 |
25 |
26 |
||||||
BMI |
Below 18.5 kg |
18.5 - 24.9 kg |
25 - 29.9 kg |
30 - 35 kg |
over 35 kg |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Weight Status |
Underweight |
Normal Weight |
Overweight |
Obese |
Morbid obesity |