Your body mass index, or BMI, is the number said to reflect the healthiness of your weight, and is derived from your height and weight. If you are wheelchair-bound, you can measure your body's height and weight while in the chair so that you can calculate your BMI. According to the Mayo Clinic, a BMI below 18.5 indicates that you are underweight, a value between 18.5 and 24.9 indicates a healthy weight, a value between 25 and 29.9 means you are overweight; and a BMI of more than 30 indicates obesity.
Step 1
Measure your height in inches. While sitting straight up, use a tape measure to measure the length from the top of your head to your waist. Then measure the length of your upper leg from your hip to your knee. Finally, measure the length of your lower leg from your knee to the bottom of your foot. Add the three measurements to get your height.
Step 2
Weigh yourself with or without your wheelchair on a large floor scale designed to accommodate people in a sitting or lying position. Record your weight in pounds. If you weigh yourself while sitting in your wheelchair, you will need to subtract the weight of the wheelchair. Consult your wheelchair's documentation to find out its weight, or weigh it while you are not on it.
Step 3
Multiply your weight in lbs. by 705 to start the BMI calculation. Divide the result by the square of your height. For example, the body mass index of a person who measures 64 in. from head to toe and weighs 150 lbs. would be calculated like this:
BMI = 705 x 150 / (64 x 64) = 25.8
Things You'll Need
- Tape measure or yardstick
- Floor scale
- Calculator
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