Body mass is known more commonly as body mass index (BMI). This is a parameter used by doctors and fitness professionals to gauge fatness and assess the health risks of their clients and patients. It is based on a relationship between height and weight. If you are curious to know your body mass, you can figure it out by using a standard metric formula and a few tools.
Step 1
Step on the scale first thing in the morning to determine your accurate weight in pounds. Use the bathroom first, do not eat anything and wear as little clothing as possible.
Step 2
Convert your weight to kilograms. Multiply your weight in pounds by .4536.
Step 3
Measure yourself in inches. Take off your shoes and stand on the inside of a doorway or with your back to a wall. Place a tick mark at the level of the top of your head with a pencil. Measure this distance with a tape measure and convert it to meters. To convert, multiply height in inches by .0254. Square this number to get height squared.
Step 4
Plug your numbers into the following equation to determine your BMI: weight in kilograms / height in meters squared (you are dividing weight by height squared).
Step 5
Compare yourself to a BMI chart like the one on nhlbisupport.com. If your body mass is below 18.5, you are considered underweight; 18.5 to 24.9 is considered normal weight; 25 to 29.9 is overweight; and anything above 30 is considered obese.
Things You'll Need
- Tape measure
- Scale
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