Body Mass Index Calculator

The Body Mass Index (BMI) uses a mathematical ratio of weight and height to determine whether or not your weight falls within a healthy range. To use the Body Mass Index calculator, click on whether you are using centimeters and kilograms, or inches and pounds, then enter your height and weight and click the "Calculate" button.

The Body Mass Index does not measure body fat directly, but research has shown that there is a fairly strong correlation between a person's BMI and their amount of body fat. But there are a number of factors that can influence whether or not your BMI is a true reflection of your total body fat. For example:

• At the same BMI, women tend to have more body fat than men.
• At the same BMI, older people tend to have more body fat than younger people.
• At the same BMI, different races often have different levels of body fat.
• People who are muscular often have a high BMI because of the weight of the muscle.
• People who have large frames may have a high BMI even if they don't have a lot of body fat.

The Body Mass Index for children (also known as BMI-for-age) factors in age and sex, because a child's body fat changes with age, and girls and boys differ in their amount of body fat as they mature.

Even though the Body Mass Index is useful in identifying possible weight problems, it needs to be considered in context with other health measures such as your cholesterol levels, blood pressure, and resting heart rate.

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