BMI stands for body mass index and it is a simple calculation often used to determine if you are at an increased health risk, due to being overweight or obese. The problem with the calculation is that it fails to consider body composition. So, if you are a male with a lot of muscle, the calculation will place you in a high/unhealthy BMI zone. Measuring your body fat provides a more accurate measure, but is not as easily determined.
Step 1
Weigh yourself. Step on the scale, with no clothes on first thing in the morning for the most accurate weight. Record this number.
Step 2
Measure your height using the tape measure if you are unsure. Record this number.
Step 3
Convert your weight in pounds to kilograms. Divide the pounds by 2.2 to determine your weight in kilograms. For example, if you weigh 200 pounds, your weight in kilograms is 90.91.
Step 4
Convert your height in inches to meters. Multiply your height in inches by .0254. If you are 6 feet tall, or 72 inches, you are 1.83 meters tall.
Step 5
Determine your meters squared. Multiply your height in meters by itself to square it. Your meters squared—1.83 multiplied by 1.83—equals 3.35.
Step 6
Calculate your Body Mass Index. Your body mass index is determined by dividing your height in meters squared into your weight in kilograms. For the example used here, 90.91 kilograms divided by 3.35 equals a body mass index of 27.14. According to the body mass index chart you would be considered overweight with the BMI.
Tips and Warnings
- Find out your percentage of body fat if your body mass index number places you in the overweight zone. BMI does not account for bodies with a high percentage of muscle
Things You'll Need
- Scale
- Tape measure
- Calculator
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