Using only your height and weight, it is possible to get an idea of the amount of body fat you have compared to the majority of people in the general population. This indirect estimation of body fat is useful for indicating whether you should be evaluated more thoroughly for health risks related to your weight. It is not used for diagnosis but can provide an indication that you could benefit from gaining or losing weight.
Measurements
Step 1
Weigh yourself using an accurate scale. Record the measurement in pounds.
Step 2
Measure your height without shoes. Stand upright with a relaxed posture against a solid surface such as a door frame or wall. Mark the surface you are standing against at the point that corresponds to the top of your head. Record the height of the mark from the ground in inches.
Step 3
Multiply your height in inches by itself. Record the product.
Step 4
Divide your weight in pounds by the product calculated in Step 3.
Step 5
Multiply the answer obtained in Step 4 by 703. This number is your BMI.
Determine Your Weight Status
Step 1
Determine if your BMI falls below 18.5. If so, you fall into the underweight category.
Step 2
Determine if your BMI is between 18.5 and 24.9. If so, you fall into the normal weight category.
Step 3
Determine if your BMI is between 25.0 and 29.9. If so, you fall into the overweight category.
Step 4
Determine if your BMI is 30.0 or higher. If so, you fall into the obese category.
Tips and Warnings
- Visit a website that does the calculations for you once you enter your height and weight. Check out calculators such as those provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute; and the Mayo Clinic to determine your BMI (see Resources).
- The relationship between body fat and BMI is accurate for most people but can vary according to age, race and sex. If you have significantly more muscle mass than members of the general public or if you are a highly conditioned athlete, you may have a BMI rating that indicates you are overweight when in fact you are not.
Things You'll Need
- Yardstick
- Bathroom scale
- Paper and pencil
- Calculator
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