BMI, or body mass index, is a measurement of body fatness and overall health based on weight and height. Doctors and other health professionals primarily use BMI to determine health risks associated with a high body fat percentage, such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, gallstones and stroke. Calculating BMI is possible using either the standard or metric system.
Speak with your doctor before making any dietary or lifestyle changes based on your BMI.
Step 1
Weigh yourself first thing in the morning. Do it naked before eating breakfast. This ensures the most accurate result possible.
Step 2
Record your weight in kilograms. If your scale only measures weight in pounds, divide that result by 2.2 to determine your weight in kilograms. For example, if you weigh 150 lbs., your weight in kilograms is 150/2.2 or 68.
Step 3
Measure your height using a yardstick. This will give you your height in inches.
Step 4
Multiply your height in inches by 2.54. This will give you your height in centimeters.
Step 5
Divide the result by 100. This will convert your height in centimeters to a measurement in meters. For example, if your are 68 inches, your height is 172.72 cm and 1.7272 m. Converting your height into meters enables you to calculate your BMI using kilograms instead of pounds. Record this number on a piece of paper.
Step 6
Multiply your height in meters by itself. This results in your height squared. For example, if you are 1.72-m-tall, your height squared is 1.72 x 1.72 = 2.96.
Step 7
Divide your weight by your height squared to obtain your BMI. For example, if you weigh 68 kg, your BMI is 68/2.96, or 23.
Things You'll Need
- Bathroom scale
- Calculator
- Notebook
- Yard stick
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