You can calculate, monitor your body weight at home and try to maintain in healthy or normal category of body weight. Body mass index (BMI) is an easy mathematical tool that can be used to correlate your body weight with underweight, healthy weight, overweight and obese. Maintaining a healthy weight may reduce the risk of chronic diseases associated with overweight and obesity.
What is Body Mass Index (BMI) ?
Body Mass Index (BMI) is a simple mathematical calculation result number, calculated from a person's weight and height. BMI is an indirect method to measure body fat based on height and weight of a person. BMI provides a reliable indicator of body fitness for most people. It is a economic method and that is used to screen and monitor for weight categories that may lead to health problems such as heart disease, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, gallstones, breathing problems, and certain cancers. Therefore, BMI can be used to decide whether to lose weight or not! 
The classification of standard status categories associated with BMI for adult (older than 20 years) is in the following table and figure
BMI | Weight Status |
Below 18.5 | Underweight |
18.4 – 24.9 | Healthy / Normal |
25.0 – 29.9 | Overweight |
30.0 - 34.9 | Obese |
35.0 and above | Extremely obese |
Calculate Your BMI:
Formula 1:
With the metric system, the formula for BMI is weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared. Since height is commonly measured in centimeters, divide height in centimeters by 100 to obtain height in meters.
Body weight (kg)
BMI = -----------------------------
(height)2 (m2)
Example: Weight = 68 kg, Height = 165 cm (1.65 m)
Calculation: 68 ÷ (1.65)2 = 24.98
Formula 2:
Calculate BMI by dividing weight in pounds (lbs) by height in inches (in) squared and multiplying by a conversion factor of 703.
Body weight (lb) x 703
BMI = -----------------------------
(height)2 (in2)
Example: Weight = 150 lbs, Height = 5 feet 5 inches (65 in)
Calculation: [150 ÷ (65)2] x 703 = 24.96
From the above formulas you can also calculate your minimum and maximum weight from your BMI and height for under weight, healthy, overweight, and obese weight category.
Watch some interesting you tube videos to know further how to calculate BMI:
You can also use the following website to calculate your BMI online and for further reading:
Books for further readings:
- Weight Loss Calculators for Motivation – Before and After Weight Loss, By Chandra B Singh, Dec 6, 2014
- World Almanac and Book of Facts, By Sarah Janssen, 2014
- Easy ways to maintain your ideal body mass index: Doing these steps give you a lean body, by Oswin Dacosta, Dec 1, 2014
- Body Mass Index: New Research, Linda A. Ferrera, Nova Publisher, Jan 01, 2005
Limitations of BMI:
- Although BMI can be used for most men and women, it does have some limits:
- It may overestimate body fat in athletes and others who have a muscular build.
- It may underestimate body fat in older persons and others who have lost muscle.
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