The body mass index (BMI) is a ratio between your weight and height. Your physician may consider your BMI among other factors to decide if you should lose or gain weight. The World Health Organization (WHO) lists specific BMI values that will classify your weight based solely on your height. You can calculate your BMI yourself if you know your weight and height. This will require you to convert your BMI into metric units.
Step 1
Measure your height in inches and convert it to meters. This requires you to multiply your height inches by 0.0254. A height of 63 inches is therefore equal to 63 x 0.0254 = 1.6 meters.
Step 2
Measure your weight in pounds and convert it to kilograms. This requires you to divide your weight by 2.2. A weight of 167 pounds is therefore equal to 167 / 2.2 = 75.9 kilograms.
Step 3
Compute your BMI. This uses the equation BMI = w / (h x h) where w is your weight and h is your height. Your weight is in kilograms and your height is in meters, so your BMI will be in units of kilograms per square meter (kg/m^2.) A height of 1.6 meters and a weight of 75.9 kilograms provides a BMI of 75.9 / (1.6 x 1.6) = 29.6 kg/m^2.
Step 4
Assess your weight from your BMI based on the WHO classification system. A BMI of 29.6 kg/m^2 falls within the pre-obesity range of 25 to 30 kg/m^2. A BMI above this range indicates obesity, a BMI between 18.5 and 25 is normal, and a BMI below 18.5 is underweight.
Things You'll Need
- Tape measure
- Bathroom scale
- Calculator
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