The body mass index (BMI) was designed as a simple formula to help individuals calculate their weight-to-height ratio and determine whether they are underweight, overweight or right on target. This is an incredibly popular statistic because of its simplicity, but individuals shouldn't put too much emphasis on the BMI. It is unable to take into account important variables, such as body frame, and also doesn't factor in what percentage of that weight is fat. Because muscle weighs more than fat, many athletes qualify as obese, according to BMI. Still, it is a good starting point if you are trying to determine how your weight ranks in relation to others. The standard BMI formulas are designed for adult males, making this process even simpler.
Step 1
Weigh yourself. Multiply your weight in pounds by 703.
Step 2
Measure your height in inches. Multiply this number by itself (height squared).
Step 3
Divide the product in Step 1 by the figure reached in Step 2. The resulting number is your BMI. The formula used to reach this number is BMI = (Weight in pounds x 703) / Height in inches squared.
Step 4
Determine where your weight stands in relation to standard BMI charts. If your number is below 18.5, you are considered underweight; 18.5 to 24.9 is a normal, healthy range. Numbers between 25 and 29.9 indicate you may be overweight; a BMI of 30 and above signal obesity, and if you have a number higher than 40 you may be morbidly obese.
Tips and Warnings
- Talk to your doctor before making any extreme lifestyle or dietary changes in response to calculating your BMI. You should seek a more well-rounded evaluation of your weight before acting to adjust your weight.
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