Body mass index (BMI) is a method of comparing a person's weight and height. Health care workers commonly used it as a screening tool to identify individuals who may not be at their recommended weight. The BMI is convenient to calculate because it only considers height and weight. The World Health Organization (WHO) lists BMI values that are designed for people who are sedentary and have average body types. These values are therefore less useful for people who are physically active.
Step 1
Weigh yourself in pounds. Convert your weight to kilograms by dividing your weight in pounds by 2.2. For example, a weight of 153 pounds is equal to 153/2.2 = 69.5 kilograms.
Step 2
Measure your height in inches. Convert your height to meters by multiplying your height in inches by 0.0254. For example, a height of 68 inches is equal to 68 x 0.0254 = 1.73 meters.
Step 3
Compute your BMI with the formula (weight) / (height x height) where your weight is in kilograms and your height is in meters. This will provide your BMI in metric units of kilograms per square meter (kg/m^2.) This is necessary because WHO uses BMI values in metric units. For example, a weight of 69.5 kilograms and a height of 1.73 meters provides a BMI of 69.5 / (1.73 x 1.73) = 23.2 kg/m^2.
Step 4
Reference the WHO BMI chart to determine your weight classification from your BMI. The sample BMI of 23.2 kg/m^2 falls within the normal BMI range of 18.5 to 25 kg/m^2. A BMI between 25 and 30 kg/m^2 is considered pre-obesity and a BMI above this level is considered obese. A BMI below 18.5 is considered underweight.
Things You'll Need
- Bathroom scale
- Tape measure
- Calculator
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