A body mass index (BMI) is a method of comparing a person's weight and height. It's commonly used to determine if a person is at a healthy weight for his height. Physicians should use the BMI only as a preliminary screening tool rather than a diagnosis. The BMI is convenient to calculate because it only requires you to know the weight and height. You can use a BMI reference chart to interpret the significance of the BMI once you calculate it.
Step 1
Weigh yourself with the scale. You'll need to divide your weight by 2.2 if you measured your weight in pounds. This will provide your weight in kilograms.
Step 2
Measure your height with the tape measure. You'll need to multiply your height by 0.0254 if you measured your height in inches. This will provide your weight in meters.
Step 3
Derive your BMI. Divide your weight in kilograms by your height squared in meters. This will provide your BMI in units of kilograms per square meter (kg/m^2.) You need to know your BMI in metric units because this is what most BMI references use.
Step 4
Check your BMI if you're female. A BMI below 19.1 for a female is classified as underweight. The normal range for a female BMI is 19.1 to 25.8. A female BMI that's between 25.8 and 27.3 is classified as marginally overweight, and a female BMI between 27.3 and 32.3 is classified as overweight. A BMI above 32.3 for females is classified as obese.
Step 5
Check your BMI if you're male. A BMI below 20.7 for a male is classified as underweight. The normal range for a male BMI is 20.7 to 26.4. A male BMI that's between 26.4 and 27.8 is classified as marginally overweight, and a male BMI between 27.8 and 31.1 is classified as overweight. A BMI above 31.1 is classified as obese.
Things You'll Need
- Scale
- Tape Measure
- Calculator
- BMI chart
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