Body Mass Index (BMI) Calculator
Body Mass Index (BMI) is a simple screening tool that estimates body fat based on your height and weight. Developed by Belgian mathematician Adolphe Quetelet in the 19th century, BMI is widely used by healthcare professionals as a quick indicator of whether a person falls into an underweight, normal weight, overweight, or obese category.
While BMI is a useful starting point for assessing health risks related to weight, it does not directly measure body fat or account for factors like muscle mass, bone density, age, or gender. Athletes with high muscle mass may have a high BMI despite having low body fat. For a more complete picture, BMI should be considered alongside other measurements such as waist circumference, body fat percentage, and overall fitness level.
How it works
BMI = weight (kg) / height (m)², where a result of 18.5–24.9 is considered normal weight, below 18.5 is underweight, 25–29.9 is overweight, and 30 or above is obese.
Use cases
- Quick health screening during routine medical checkups
- Tracking weight management progress over time
- Assessing population-level obesity trends in public health studies
- Setting baseline health goals for fitness programs