How to calculate BMI

Learn how to calculate your BMI and how to find your weight category.

Your body mass index is a measurement which determines which weight category you belong to, and it will give you an idea of how your weight compares to common values.

• Underweight (BMI less than 18.5)
• Healthy weight (BMI 18.5 to 24.9)
• Overweight (BMI 25 to 29.9)
• Obese (BMI 30 and above)

But... how can you calculate your BMI? The formula is easy to compute. In fact, the simplicity of the BMI formula is part of the reason for its success.

The Body Mass Index does not take into account other factors which may affect your height and weight:

• Body Builders.
• Pregnant women (or lactating).
• Children and teenagers.
• Natural differences between races.

Metric method

To calculate your BMI you will need your weight measurement in kilograms and your height in meters.

If you know your height in centimeters only, simply divide the number of centimeters by 100 to convert it to meters.

The metric formula is even easier than the imperial method, just follow the two step process:

1. Multiply your height by itself (height x height)
2. Divide your weight by the value calculated in step 1

Example:

- My height: 1.80m

- My weight: 75Kg

Step #1 = 1.80 x 1.80 = 3.24

Step #2 = 75 / 3.24 = 23.14

The resulting number (23.14) is your Body Mass Index.

Now compare this BMI value with the weight categories and find you are at a healthy weight.