The body mass index (BMI) is a comparison of weight and height. It's commonly used to determine if you are normal, under or over weight, or obese. Physicians may also use the BMI in combination with other factors to determine your healthy weight range. However, the standard BMI references are designed for sedentary individuals and can improperly classify a fit individual as being overweight. On the other hand, the BMI is convenient to use and only requires that you know your height and weight.
Step 1
Weigh yourself in kilograms. You can also weigh yourself in pounds and divide this value by 2.2 to get your weight in kilograms.
Step 2
Measure your height in meters. You can also measure yourself in inches and multiply this value by 0.0254 to obtain your height in meters.
Step 3
Calculate your BMI. This is given by the equation BMI = w / (h*h) where w is your weight in kilograms and h is your height in meters. This will provide your BMI in metric units of kilograms per square meters. Most BMI references use metric units.
Step 4
Use your BMI to determine your weight classification. The World Health Organization (WHO) considers a BMI below 18.5 to be underweight. A BMI between 18.5 and 25 is normal, a BMI between 25 and 30 indicates pre-obesity and a BMI greater than 30 indicates obesity.
Things You'll Need
- Scales
- Tape measure
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