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Body Mass Index (B.M.I) Calculator |
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What is BMI?
Doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals around the world use BMI to determine whether a person is overweight or clinically obese. The latest statistics, published in the Health Survey of England 2004, show that almost a quarter of adults are obese. This means they have a greater risk of developing heart disease, diabetes, stroke and certain cancers (breast and colon).
Other health problems related to having too much fat around the body include a greater chance of developing osteoarthritis (wear and tear) of the joints, and emotional problems such as low self-esteem and depression.
A significant drawback with BMI is that it doesn't take into account a person's body fat content, which is an indicator of the risk of future health problems.
Adults and BMI
Your BMI is calculated by dividing your weight in kilograms by your height in metres squared. You can estimate your BMI using our calculator. The result you get is then classified into the following groups
Recommended BMI Chart
Underweight BMI less than 18.5
Ideal BMI 18.5-25
Overweight BMI 25-30
Obese - should lose weight BMI 30-40
Very obese - lose weight now BMI greater than 40
A BMI measurement is not as accurate if you're an athlete or very muscular (muscle weighs more than fat) as this can push you into a higher BMI category even if you have a healthy level of body fat. It's also not accurate for women who are pregnant or breastfeeding, or people who are frail.
Children and BMI
The number of clinically obese children has also increased sharply in recent years, and there are fears that if present trends continue obesity-related diseases, such as diabetes, will occur at a much younger age than at present.
A child's BMI is calculated using the same method as for adults - weight in kilograms divided by height in metres squared. But adult BMI figures must not be used to determine whether a child is overweight or obese.
Specific age-adjusted charts are needed. An example can be found at the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention website .
Waist circumference
Waist circumference is now believed to be a much more accurate measure of future health risk than BMI alone. Carrying too much fat around your middle is associated with an increased risk of developing heart disease and diabetes.
It's also associated with a greater risk of high cholesterol levels which, in turn, increase the risk of heart attacks and strokes.
A waist circumference greater than 80cm (32in) for women and 94cm (37in) for men increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases, for example, heart attacks and stroke, and diabetes.
The greatest risk is for women with a waist measurement of more than 88cm (35in) and men with a waist measurement of more than 102cm (40in).
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