Body Mass Index (BMI) Calculator
Calculation
BMI = 703 × weight (lbs) / [height (in)]²
Understanding BMI
Body Mass Index (BMI) is a widely used measure to gauge whether a person has a healthy body weight for their height. It provides a simple numeric indicator derived from your height and weight, helping to categorize individuals into underweight, healthy weight, overweight, or obese categories. While it doesn't measure body fat directly, it correlates reasonably well with more direct measures of body fat and is a common starting point for assessing potential weight-related health risks.
The concept was developed between 1830 and 1850 by the Belgian mathematician and statistician Adolphe Quetelet during his work on "social physics." He sought a way to quantify the average human build, leading to the Quetelet Index. It gained popularity in the latter half of the 20th century after research highlighted its correlation with adiposity and associated health outcomes. Despite its limitations (e.g., not distinguishing between muscle and fat mass), BMI remains a valuable screening tool due to its simplicity and low cost.
BMI is primarily used in public health statistics and clinical settings as an initial screening tool. A high BMI can indicate high body fatness and potential risk for conditions like heart disease, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, and certain cancers. Conversely, a low BMI can indicate malnutrition or other health issues. However, it should be interpreted cautiously, considering factors like age, sex, ethnicity, and muscle mass, and ideally used alongside other health assessments like waist circumference or skinfold thickness measurements.