Body mass index, also known as BMI, is a calculation that uses your height and weight. You can use your BMI to determine if your weight is within the desired range. Clinicians frequently use the BMI as a method of identifying individuals in a group who may be underweight or overweight. The World Health Organization provides weight classifications based on BMI values. These values assume you have an average body type and are relatively sedentary.
Step 1
Weigh yourself with a bathroom scale to obtain your weight in pounds. Divide this value by 2.2 to obtain your weight in kilograms. Assume your weight is 156 lb. in this example. You weigh 156 / 2.2 = 70.9kg.
Step 2
Measure yourself with a tape measure to get your height in inches. Multiply this value by 0.0254 to obtain your height in meters. Assume your height is 70 inches. You are 70 x 0.0254 = 1.78m tall.
Step 3
Calculate your BMI in metric units of kg/m^2 by using the equation (weight) / (height x height). Your weight is 70.9kg and your height is 1.78m in this example, so your BMI is 70.9 / (1.78 x 1.78) = 22.4. The WHO classification tables use BMI values in units of kg/m^2.
Step 4
Compare your BMI with the BMI values in the WHO classification tables to interpret your BMI. Your BMI is 22.4 in this example, which is in the normal range, between 18.5 and 25. A BMI of less than 18.5 is considered underweight. A BMI in the range of 25 to 30 indicates pre-obesity and a BMI greater than 30 indicates obesity.
Things You'll Need
- Bathroom scale
- Tape measure
- Calculator
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