Your body mass index, or BMI, can indicate whether you have a healthy or unhealthy weight. Your BMI value takes into account your weight and height measurements. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends BMI calculation as a way for the general public to quickly assess their weight and body fat levels.
Formula
To calculate your BMI, divide your weight in pounds by your height in inches, squared and multiply the resulting value by 703. Weigh yourself in the morning for the most accurate weight measurement, and have a friend help you measure your height.
Uses
Calculating your BMI can help you determine whether or not you may have weight problems. For adults, a BMI value under 18.5 may indicate an unhealthy low weight, a BMI value between 18.5 and 24.9 typically indicates a healthy weight, a BMI value between 25 and 29.9 indicates overweight and a BMI value above 30 indicates obesity, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. An unhealthy high weight puts you at increased risk for heart disease, stroke and diabetes.
Benefits
Many methods of assessing weight and body fat require specialized equipment and technical experience. All you need to calculate your BMI are a few measurements and a calculator. You can easily calculate and interpret your BMI at home.
Limitations
BMI values can underestimate or overestimate body fatness, particularly in women, older adults and athletes. Because women tend to have more body fat than men, some women with healthy BMI values may be overweight or obese. BMI values fail to predict obesity in nearly 50 percent of women ages 20 to 33, according to MayoClinic.com. BMI may also underestimate obesity in older men and women who have lost muscle mass and gained more body fat. On the other hand, BMI can overestimate body fat in athletes who have dense muscle mass. Because of its limitations, BMI should not be used as a definitive diagnostic tool.
Further Assessments
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that you and your health-care provider investigate your weight with other methods. Other ways to assess your weight include body fat analyses such as waist measurements, skinfold measurements with calipers, dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry and underwater weighing, as well as general evaluations of your family history, diet and activity levels.
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