http://www.thecalculatorsite.

com/articles/
health/bmi-formula-for-bmi-
calculations.php
How To Calculate Your BMI
Article Category: Health  |   

Body mass index is a measure of body fat and is commonly used

within the health industry to determine whether your weight is
healthy. BMI applies to both adult men and women and is the
calculation of body weight in relation to height. This article delves
into the BMI formula and shows you how to calculate your BMI
manually using mathematics.

BMI formula
 The formula for BMI was devised in the 1830s by Belgian mathematician
Adolphe Quetelet. BMI is universally expressed in kg/m2. If imperial units are
used (pounds and inches) then an additional conversion factor is applied.
The first formula we've listed below is the metric formula, using kilograms and
meters. The second one is the English imperial formula, which uses units of
pounds and inches.

Metric BMI Formula

BMI = weight (kg) ÷ height2 (m2)

Imperial BMI Formula

BMI = weight (lb) ÷ height2 (in2) × 703

Let's go through a couple of examples to demonstrate how these formulae
work.

How to calculate your BMI (metric units)

Simple steps to work out your BMI:
1. Multiply your height in meters (m) by itself
2. Divide your weight in kilograms (kg) by your step 1 result

Example using formula

For an adult with height of 180 cm and weight of 75 kg. Our first step needs to
be to convert the height into meters (British spelling: metres). As there are
100cm in a meter, we divide our figure by 100. This gives us 1.8m.
Let's plug those figures into our formula:
BMI = 75 ÷ (1.8 × 1.8)
BMI = 75 ÷ 3.24
This gives us a BMI figure of 23.15.

How to calculate your BMI (imperial units)

Simple steps to work out your imperial BMI:
1. Multiply your height in inches (in) by itself
2. Divide your weight in pounds (lb) by your step 1 result
3. Multiply the result from step 2 by 703.

Example using formula

For an adult with height of 5ft 11 inches and weight of 155 pounds (lb). Step
one is to convert the height into inches only. There are 12 inches in a foot, so
we simply multiply the 5ft by 12 and then add the 11 inches. This gives us a
total of 71 inches.
Let’s plug those figures into our formula:
BMI = (155 ÷ (71 × 71)) × 703
We do the multiplication inside the brackets first:
BMI = (155 ÷ 5041) × 703
And then…
BMI = 0.030747867 × 703
This gives us a BMI figure of 21.62.
Of course, should you not wish to calculate BMI manually with the formula,
you can use my popular BMI calculator or the interactive BMI formula below.

Interactive BMI formula

Use the calculator below to demonstrate the formula and resulting BMI
calculation for your chosen weight and height figures. Options for both metric
and imperial units are available.
Please note that this calculator requires JavaScript to be enabled in your
browser.
Units:

    

Weight:

kg 

Height:

cm 

calculate
Metric BMI Formula

BMI =65

(1.7 × 1.7) = 22.49

Note that the results given by the Interactive BMI Formula should be used only as a guide and should not replace
medical advice.

BMI Categorization
The BMI statistical categories below are based on BMI scores and apply to
adults of age 20 years and upwards. The World Health Organisation (WHO)
regards a healthy adult BMI to be between 18.5 and 25.

BMI BMI Category

Less than 15 Very severely underweight

Between 15 and 16 Severely underweight

Between 16 and 18.5 Underweight

Between 18.5 and 25 Normal (healthy weight)

Between 25 and 30 Overweight

Between 30 and 35 Moderately obese

Between 35 and 40 Severely obese

Over 40 Very severely obese

BMI Chart
I have included a BMI chart below, to give you a quick idea of how they look.
To customise a version for your own height and weight, see my interactive
BMI chart.

BMI remains controversial

We can't feature an article about BMI without touching upon some of the
controversies surrounding it.
It is a common argument that the results BMI measurements provide are too
general and do not consider the gender, build, age or ethnicity of a person.
For example, professional athletes are often considered overweight or obese
when using BMI measurements due to their muscle content, which weighs
more than fat.
Similarly, as people age their bone density decreases. So, although they may
seem to have a weight within the normal BMI range, their measurement
actually needs to be scaled-down to reflect this. Alternatives to BMI do
exist for those who consider BMI an inaccurate measurement tool.
Always speak to a Doctor or health professional for advice and guidance if you
are concerned about your weight.
Written by Robert George