Osteoporosis is a condition that causes the bones to become weak and brittle with age. Although this is mainly a female condition, men are not exempt. Body mass index (BMI) is a parameter used to determine health risks, based on a relationship of your height to your weight. According to the International Osteoporosis Foundation, a BMI below 19 is considered too low and a risk factor for osteoporosis. If you already have the disease, you can calculate your BMI from home with an equation and a few tools.
Step 1
Weigh yourself and convert those pounds to kilograms. Get up in the morning, use the bathroom, and step onto the scale with no food in your belly and wearing little or no clothing. Jot down your weight in pounds and multiply it by .4536 to convert it to kilograms. Take 120 lbs. as an example. Your weight would be 54 kg.
Step 2
Measure yourself and convert inches to meters squared. Take off your shoes and stand with your back against a wall or the inside of a doorway. Take out a pen or pencil and place a small mark on the wall right at the top of your head. Grab a tape measure and measure the distance from the floor to this mark. Use 5 feet, 4 inches as an example. This would become 64 inches. Multiple this number by .0254 to get meters. Multiply that number by itself to square it.
As an example, 64 x .0254 = 1.63 meters
1.63 x 1.63 = 2.65 meters
Step 3
Input your height and weight into an equation to determine your BMI. The metric system equation is weight in kilograms, divided by weight in meters squared. The equation would be 54/2.65. The BMI would be 20. This is just above the risk factor range if you do not already have osteoporosis.
Step 4
Input your information into a BMI calculator. If you do not like doing the math yourself, use an online resource to determine your BMI. The American Cancer Society has an easy free calculator. Input your accurate height and weight, press "Find My BMI." Your BMI will appear instantly.
Things You'll Need
- Scale
- Tape measure
- Pen
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