How Do You Calculate Body Mass Index?

How do you calculate body mass index (BMI), what is a normal BMI, and why is knowing your BMI important?

To calculate your body mass index...

1. Convert your weight into kilograms (1 pound = 0.45359237 kilograms)


2. Convert your height into meters (1 inch = 0.0254 meters)


3. Divide your weight by your height squared.
   
   For example...
   
   I'm 150 pounds = 68.0388 kilograms
   I'm 5'8" (68 inches) = 1.7272 meters
   BMI Formula = 68 / (1.7272 * 1.7272) = 22.79
   
   My body mass index is 22.79

What Is A Normal BMI?

Most physicians consider a BMI range of 18.5 to 24.9 as normal BMI.

A BMI range of 25 to 29.9 is considered overweight.

A BMI of over 30 is considered obese.

Why Is Knowing Your BMI Important?

Knowing your body mass index is important because it tells you if you're "normal". Getting your body between the "normal BMI" range is your weight loss goal. If you're still over that BMI range, then you know to keep losing weight.

But the BMI is not a foolproof way of knowing how much fat you have on your body. In fact, it doesn't measure how much fat is on your body. All it does is express your weight is comparison to your height.

People with a lot of muscle mass can cause their BMI to register above 25.

But assuming you are not muscle-bound, shoot for a BMI around 20 to 22.

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