Body Mass Index Calculator: An Overview
Research on obesity has shown that body fatness can be measured using
body mass index, or
BMI for short. Body mass index is a measurement used to describe weight in relation to height. While BMI does not measure body fat directly, it has been shown to correlate closely to direct measures of body fat in most people.
The body mass index calculator is used to determine an adult's BMI. For adults, this is interpreted through categories that do not take factors such as sex or age into account. Anyone at least 20 years of age can use the BMI calculator.
Calculating Body Mass Index in Adults
To use the adult body mass index calculator, enter your weight and height using metric or English measurements. Click Calculate, and your BMI will appear.
Interpreting Body Mass Index Calculator Results for Adults
For adults 20 years and older,
BMI results are interpreted using standard weight status categories that are the same for all ages and for both men and women. The standard weight status categories associated with BMI ranges for adults are shown in the following table:
|
BMI
|
Weight Status
|
|
Below 18.5
|
Underweight
|
|
18.5-24.9
|
Normal
|
|
25.0-29.9
|
Overweight
|
|
30.0 and Above
|
Obese
|
It's important to remember that calculating
body mass index is just one measure used to assess the risk associated with weight.
(Click BMI and Weight for information about other factors healthcare providers consider when determining risks for certain medical conditions related to weight.)
A Key Point to Remember When Calculating Your Body Mass Index
The adult body mass index calculator provides only the BMI number and not the BMI age- and sex-specific percentile that is used to interpret BMI and determine the weight category for children and teens. BMI categories for adults should not be used to interpret BMI numbers for children and teens.
