Figuring The Body Mass Index

The body mass index, or BMI, is a numerical value that compares a person's weight to his height. It is used to classify a person as underweight, overweight or obese. According to the World Health Organization, BMI values do not take age and sex into account. It serves as a general indicator of health and gauges the risk of developing weight-related disease, such as heart disease and diabetes. You can calculate your BMI if you know your current weight and height.

Step 1

Weigh yourself and multiply your weight in pounds by 703. For example, a woman weighing 160 lbs. would get a product of 112,480.

Step 2

Measure yourself in inches and square this number. A woman with a height of 60 inches would multiply that number by 60, with a product of 3,600.

Step 3

Divide the product in Step 1 by the product in Step 2. In the current example, you would divide 112,480 by 3,600, which would result in a BMI of 31.2.

Step 4

Compare your number to the World Health Organization's classification system. If your BMI is below 18.5, you are underweight; 18.5 to 24.9 is healthy range. A BMI between 25 and 29.9 indicates that you may be overweight, while a BMI above 30 indicates obesity.