BMI stands for Body Mass Index. BMI uses a ratio of height to weight to roughly estimate body fatness and health risk. While BMI works well as a tool for health professionals to monitor health risk, the equation comes with some inaccuracy. For an athlete or someone with a high muscle mass, BMI overestimates body fat since muscle takes up less space due to a higher density than fat. A muscular person could therefore weigh more than someone of the same height with more body fat.
Step 1
Stand on the scale and take a measurement of your weight in pounds.
Step 2
Use the tape measure to accurately determine your height in inches.
Step 3
Take the measurements of your height and weight and plug them into the following equation:
weight (lb) / [height (in)]2 x 703.
For example if your height is 65 in. and your weight is 125 lbs., you will multiply 65 by 65 and then divide 125 by the result which is 4,225 to get .0295. You then multiply .0295 by 703 to get your BMI number of 21.
Step 4
Once you calculate your BMI, determine your weight status. Below 25 is considered normal, between 25 and 30 is considered overweight and above 30 is obese.
Things You'll Need
- Tape measure
- Scale
- Paper
- Pencil
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