How to determine your Body Mass Index (BMI)

Move the sliders below so that they reflect your height and your weight and your BMI will be displayed below

BMI Calculator
 BMI


How the BMI Calculation Works

Measurement Units Formula & Calculation
For Pounds and inches Formula: weight (lb) / [height (in)]2 x 703

You calculate BMI by dividing your weight in pounds (lbs) by your height in inches (in) squared and multiplying by a factor of 703.

Example: Weight = 150 lbs, Height = 5’5” (65")
Calculation: [150 divided by (65)2] x 703 = 24.96



The standard weight status categories associated with BMI ranges for adults are shown in the following table.

BMI Weight Status
Below 18.5 Underweight
18.5 to 24.9 Normal
25.0 to 29.9 Overweight
30.0 and Above Obese

How reliable is BMI as an indicator of body condition?

The relationship between your BMI number and the amount of fat in your body is pretty strong; however the ration varies by gender, age and race. Some of these variations include some of the following examples:

With equal BMIs, women seem to have more body fat than men.

At equal BMIs, older people, usually tend to have more body fat than younger people.

Trained athletes can have a high BMI because of muscularity rather than increased body fat.

Remember that BMI is only one measurement related to risk for disease. For a full assessment of someone's likelihood of developing weight or obesity-related illnesses, the National Heart Institute guidelines recommends looking at two other factors:

The person's waist circumference and other risk factors the individual may have for diseases such as high blood pressure or physical inactivity.

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