Body mass index (BMI) is a value that compares a person's height and his weight. Its most appropriate use is in studies for assessing the weight of a population. The BMI classification system, established by the World Health Organization (WHO), doesn't take other factors such as sex or age into account. BMI gives health professionals a quick, simple estimation of whether a person, or a group of people, is underweight, of normal weight, overweight or obese. You can calculate your own BMI, based on your height and weight.
Step 1
Weigh yourself in pounds on an accurate set of scales.
Step 2
Measure your height in inches, using a tape measure.
Step 3
Calculate the BMI. Divide your weight in pounds by the square of your height in inches. As an example, a 160 lb. person who is 5 feet 8 inches tall will calculate as: 160 / (68 x 68) = 160 / 4624 = 0.0346 lbs. per square inch.
Step 4
Convert the subject's BMI from pounds per square inch to kilograms per square meter. You can accomplish this by multiplying by the conversion factor of 703. For example, a BMI of 0.0346 lbs. per square inch is equal to a BMI of 0.0346 x 703 = 24.3kg per square meter.
Step 5
Assess the weight classification from the BMI. A BMI that's below 18.5 is classified as underweight. The range for a normal BMI is between 18.5 and 25. The BMI range for pre-obesity is between 25 and 30. A BMI greater than 30 is classified as obese. A BMI of 24.3 indicates your weight is within the normal weight range.
Things You'll Need
- Scales
- Tape measure
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