The BMI, or body mass index, is a general measurement of what percentage of your total body weight comes from body fat. A healthy adult should have a BMI between 18.5 and 24.9. Anything less than 18.5 is considered underweight and any BMI between 25 and 29.9 is overweight. You are obese if your BMI is over 30. You'll need an accurate weight and height measurement to calculate your body mass index. The BMI is based on a standard weight to height ratio, and won't be as accurate for children, teens and pregnant women.
Step 1
Use an online BMI calculator. Several reputable sites, including MayoClinic.com and the Cleveland Clinic, simply require you to plug in your weight in pounds and your height in feet and inches.
Step 2
Calculate your BMI yourself. Divide your weight in pounds by your height in inches squared, then multiply that number by 703. For example, an adult who is 5 feet 6 inches or 66 inches tall and weighs 160 lb. has a BMI of 25.8.
Step 3
Use your BMI as a tool to assess your risk of developing weight-related diseases. Heart disease and type 2 diabetes are closely associated with obesity. The BMI is the simplest way to get a general idea of your body fat percentage, but it is not the most accurate. Your doctor may order other tests, such as isotope dilution or underwater weighing.
Tips and Warnings
- At the same body mass index, older people tend to have a higher percentage of body fat, and women tend to have a higher percentage of body fat than men. Use your waist circumference in conjunction with your BMI to evaluate your risks for obesity-related illness, as many of those diseases are associated with abdominal fat. Men with a waist circumference larger than 40, and women with a waist measurement larger than 35, are at a higher risk.
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