Body mass index (BMI) is a tool for evaluation of weight and obesity that has exploded in popularity in recent years. It works by turning your body weight and height into a ratio and then using that ratio as a score to determine your standing on a chart ranging from underweight to obese. While it has been criticized for being an oversimplified equation and is not comprehensive in its analysis, it is nonetheless a good number to keep an eye on in conjunction with other statistics and evaluations.
Step 1
Find your weight in pounds, and your height in inches.
Step 2
Multiply your weight by 703.
Step 3
Divide the resulting number by your height in inches squared. The equation you will use is:
BMI = W * 703 / H^2
W is your weight in pounds, and H is your height in inches.
Step 4
Apply the BMI scale to your number. If your BMI number is below 15, you are extremely underweight. Numbers between 15 and 18 are only mildly underweight, while 18 to 24 is the normal range. A result of 25 to 30 is overweight, 30 to 40 is obese and anything over 40 is morbidly obese.
Tips and Warnings
- BMI should be considered a preliminary weight evaluation tool rather than a definitive assessment of your health. Many athletes, for example, score as obese because of their muscle mass, even if they are in extremely fit shape. BMI should be used in conjunction with other tools, such as the calculation of your percentage of body fat, to properly assess your fitness.
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