To calculate Body Mass Index (BMI), you use the following formula:
BMI=weight in kilograms(height in meters)2\text{BMI}=\frac{\text{weight in kilograms}}{(\text{height in meters})^2}BMI=(height in meters)2weight in kilograms
Step-by-step calculation:
- Measure your weight in kilograms (kg).
- Measure your height in meters (m).
- Square your height (multiply height by itself).
- Divide your weight by the squared height.
Example:
If you weigh 70 kg and are 1.70 meters tall:
- Square your height: 1.70×1.70=2.891.70\times 1.70=2.891.70×1.70=2.89
- Divide your weight by this number: 70÷2.89=24.2270\div 2.89=24.2270÷2.89=24.22
Your BMI would be 24.2
For measurements in pounds and inches (Imperial system), the formula is:
BMI=weight in pounds(height in inches)2×703\text{BMI}=\frac{\text{weight in pounds}}{(\text{height in inches})^2}\times 703BMI=(height in inches)2weight in pounds×703
Example:
If you weigh 160 pounds and are 68 inches tall:
BMI=16068×68×703=24.3\text{BMI}=\frac{160}{68\times 68}\times 703=24.3BMI=68×68160×703=24.3
You can also use online BMI calculators to avoid manual errors
. BMI helps estimate if you are underweight, healthy weight, overweight, or obese, which can relate to health risks like diabetes and heart disease. However, it does not differentiate between muscle and fat
