Your body mass index (BMI) is a comparison of your height and weight. Doctors use the BMI with other factors to identify patients who may be outside their ideal weight range. The BMI also is convenient to use in large groups because you can compute it very quickly. Speed is important when working with large groups because the total computation time is equal to the individual computation time multiplied by the number of people in the group.
Step 1
Measure your height in inches. You'll need to multiply this value by 0.0254 to convert your height to meters. This is necessary because BMI tables generally use BMI values in metric units.
Step 2
Weigh yourself in pounds. You'll need to divide this value by 2.2 to convert your weight to kilograms. This will allow you to calculate your BMI in metric units.
Step 3
Compute your BMI by dividing your weight by the square of your height. Ensure that you use your weight in kilograms and your height in meters so that your BMI is in units of kilograms per square meter (kg/m^2.)
Step 4
Classify your BMI if you're female. Your BMI indicates a normal weight if it's between 19.1 and 25.8. A BMI that's less than 19.1 is classified as underweight. A BMI that's between 25.8 and 27.3 is classified as marginally overweight. A BMI between 27.3 and 32.3 is classified as overweight, and a BMI greater than 32.3 is considered to be obese.
Step 5
Classify your BMI if you're male. Your BMI indicates a normal weight if it's between 20.7 and 26.4. A BMI that's less than 20.7 is classified as underweight. A BMI that's between 26.4 and 27.8 is classified as marginally overweight. A BMI between 27.8 and 31.1 is classified as overweight, and a BMI greater than 31.1 is considered to be obese.
Things You'll Need
- Tape measure
- Scale
- Calculator
- BMI chart
Member Comments