Body mass index, or BMI, offers an indirect estimation of body composition. By knowing your BMI, you can get an idea of whether you should be concerned about your weight. If you have a high BMI and are overweight or obese, you are typically at risk for certain health problems, including high blood pressure, heart disease and diabetes.
Step 1
Measure how tall you are. Record your height in inches.
Step 2
Weigh yourself when wearing a minimal amount of clothing. Record your weight in pounds.
Step 3
Divide your weight by your height in inches squared. Multiply the result by 703; the conversion factor is needed because this formula was originally developed for the metric system.
Step 4
Interpret your BMI by referring to the following chart, which shows standard weight status according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
BMI below 18.5--underweight
BMI between 18.5 and 24.9--normal
BMI between 25.0 and 29.9--overweight
BMI of 30.0 and above--obese
Step 5
Take as an example a person who weighs 160 lbs. and is 65 inches tall. Divide 160 by 65 times 65--that is, 160 divided by 4225. Your answer is .038. Multiply that number by 703 to get a BMI of 26.714.
Since this number is between 25 and 29.9, the person falls within the weight status of overweight. Although BMI alone does not predict health risks, a person within the overweight range should consider lifestyle changes, including increased exercise to help with weight reduction. Even losing a modest amount of weight could help improve health, including potentially lowering the risk of diabetes and high blood pressure, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Tips and Warnings
- Refer to the CDC online BMI calculator for children and teens to get an estimate of BMI for young people. Use the Department of Health and Human Services' BMI table for a quick BMI estimate for adults.
Things You'll Need
- Tape measure
- Bathroom scale
- Paper
- Pen
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