Body fat percentage is a parameter used by personal trainers and health care practitioners to monitor the weight loss of clients and patients. Body mass index, or BMI, is another component of body composition, but it is different than body fat percentage. To figure your BMI, you do not need calipers or any fancy equipment, but you do need general math skills. Choose from two different equations to figure out your BMI. Your personal BMI goal is to stay below 25 on the chart.
Step 1
Weigh yourself as soon as you wake up. Get out of bed, use the bathroom and strip down to no more than your underwear. Step onto the scale and read your weight. Step back off and make sure the line is on zero. Recalibrate your scale if it is not. Step back on and weigh yourself again. Note your weight once your scale is calibrated.
Step 2
Determine your height. Take off your shoes and socks, back yourself up to a wall and draw a small mark at the top of your head. Take out a tape measure and measure this distance in inches. Note your height.
Step 3
Convert your weight and height into kilograms and meters. Use 230 lbs. and 76 inches as examples. Divide 230 by 2.2 to get 105 kg. Multiply 76 times .0254 to get 1.9 meters.
Step 4
Input your numbers into the equation weight in kilograms divided by your height in meters squared to use the metric system. Using the example from step 3, the equation would be 105 /1.9 x 1.9. Your BMI in this situation would be 29. Input your numbers into the equation weight in pounds divided by height in inches squared times 703 to utilize the standard system equation. Using 150 lbs. and 62 inches for an example, the equation would be 150/62 x 62 x 703. Your BMI would be 27. Both of these readings are on the high end of the overweight category. Anything over 30 is considered obese.
Step 5
Find your BMI with an online calculator. The National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute website offers this service and it only takes seconds. Input your height and weight, click on the "Compute BMI" tab and your reading will appear instantly.
Things You'll Need
- Scale
- Tape measure
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