Your BMI, or Body Mass Index, is a number that is derived from your height and your weight to assess your body, and it provides a base from which to assess you for obesity or other weight-related issues. Because the number derived from the calculation only uses your height and weight and doesn't account for body type, a person who is very muscular can actually appear morbidly obese on the scale. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or CDC, notes that using BMI is one the easiest and inexpensive methods for assessment of population obesity.
Step 1
Step on a scale with as little clothing as possible on and record your weight. Then measure your height.
Step 2
Multiply your weight by 705. The result should then be divided by the number of inches you are tall. Then this result should be divided once again by your height in inches. The final number is your BMI.
Step 3
Compare your BMI to the standard weight status categories provided by the CDC.
A BMI below 18.5 represents underweight, 18.5 to 24.9 would be considered normal, 25 to 29.9 is overweight and 30 and above is obese.
Tips and Warnings
- Make sure that your scale is accurate. Use a calculator to ensure that your results are correct.
Things You'll Need
- Weight scale
- Calculator
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