BMI or Body Mass Index Calculator is a quick tool that healthcare providers use to assess a person’s risk for certain health conditions. Body Mass Index (BMI) is a value derived from a person’s weight and height. It is defined as the individual’s body mass divided by the square of their height, usually expressed in units of kg/m², resulting from mass in kilograms and height in meters. The tool below helps calculate BMI by entering the specified fields.

BMI Calculator

Use this calculator to check your body mass index (BMI).

Unit type Metric Imperial

Height

cm.

Please enter value between 125 and 225.

Weight

kg.

Please enter value between 10.0 and 500.0 ( one decimal ).

Height

ft.

in.

Please enter value between 4.2 and 7.3

Weight

lb.

st.

Please enter value between 22.0 and 1000.0 ( one decimal ).

Calculate BMI

Use this calculator to check your body mass index (BMI), which can be a helpful tool in determining your weight category. Or, use it to calculate your child’s BMI.

Your Body Mass Index (BMI) is

Based on your input, your BMI is in the category

You

Underweight

Healthy

Overweight

Obese

For your height, a healthy weight would be between kilograms

For your height, a healthy weight would be between lb.

BMI Categories
According to the World Health Organization (WHO) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH), BMI categories are used to classify individuals based on potential health risks:

• Underweight: BMI less than 18.5
• Normal weight: BMI 18.5–24.9
• Overweight: BMI 25–29.9
• Obesity: BMI 30 or greater

What are the Implications of BMI

Body Mass Index (BMI), despite being a widely used tool for assessing body weight status relative to height, comes with significant health implications. Here are some of the critical implications of BMI:

Health Risks: High BMI is associated with an increased risk of various health conditions, including heart disease, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, certain cancers, and respiratory issues. For example, studies have shown a significant association between BMI and higher rates of death from cancer and cardiovascular diseases.

Economic Impact: Obesity, measured through high BMI, has substantial economic consequences. The estimated annual obesity-related medical care costs in the United States, in 2019 dollars, were nearly $173 billion. Furthermore, productivity costs related to obesity-related absenteeism range between $3.38 billion and $6.38 billion annually.

Psychological and Social Implications: Higher BMI can also have psychological and social repercussions, including stigma, discrimination, and lower quality of life. These factors can contribute to mental health issues such as depression and anxiety.

Use in Public Health: BMI is used as a simple, inexpensive screening tool for categorizing underweight, normal weight, overweight, and obesity in public health settings. This helps in the early identification and management of weight-related health issues.

Limitations of BMI calculation

While BMI measure is useful for a general indication of body fatness and related health risks, it has limitations. It does not differentiate between muscle and fat mass and may not equally apply across all populations and ethnicities.

Additional Insights
BMI can be informative for initial health assessments, but it should not be the sole determiner of one’s general health. Other measurements and health factors should also be taken into account.

If you would like to know the BMI for a child please see our Child BMI Calculator.