Author:
Monica Porter
Date Of Creation:
20 March 2021
Update Date:
27 June 2024
Content
When you know your body mass index (also known as BMI), you can easily assess and adjust your weight. Although this number does not tell you the exact amount of body fat, it is the simplest and least expensive measurement.There are different ways to calculate your BMI depending on the type of measurement you choose. First, you need to remember your current height and weight so that you can calculate your BMI.
See Why should you try this? to know the benefits of calculating BMI.
Steps
Method 1 of 4: Metric
Measure your height in meters and square the number. You will first multiply the height measured in meters by itself. For example, if you are 1.75m tall, you would multiply 1.75 by 1.75 and get a result of 3.06.
Divide your weight in kilograms by your height squared. The next step you need to do is divide your weight in kilograms by your height squared. For example, if your weight is 75kg and your height in meters squared is 3.06, you would divide 75 by 3.06 and the result 24.5 is your BMI.
Use an additional unit formula if you are measuring your height in centimeters. You can still calculate BMI if your height is measured in centimeters, but you need to use a slightly different formula for the calculation. The formula will be your weight in kilograms divided by your height in centimeters, then divide the result by your height in centimeters again, finally. Multiply the result by 10,000.- For example, if your weight is 60 kg and your height is 152 cm, then divide 60 by 152 and divide by 152 again (60/152/152) to give 0.002596. Multiply this number by 10,000 and you will get 25.96 or round it to 26. The BMI in this example is about 26.
- Another way is to convert the height in centimeters to meters by converting the decimal point two rows left. For example, 152 cm equals 1.52 m. Then, you will calculate your BMI by squaring your height in meters and dividing your weight by your height squared. For example, 1.52 multiplied by 1.52 equals 2.31. If your weight is 80kg, divide 80 by 2.31 and the result 34.6 is your BMI.
Method 2 of 4: Use imperial measurements
Square of height is measured in inches. To square your height, multiply your height in inches by itself. For example, if your height is 70 inches, multiply 70 by 70. Your answer in this example is 4,900.
Divide your weight by your height. Next, you need to divide your weight by your squared height. For example, if your weight is 180 pounds, divide 180 by 4,900 and get the answer of 0.03673.
Multiply your answer by 703. To get your BMI, you will need to multiply your answer by 703. For example, 0.03673 multiplied 703 equals 25.82 and your BMI in this example is 25.8. advertisement
Method 3 of 4: Convert units of measure to metric
Multiply your height in inches by 0.025. The number 0.025 is the factor that helps you convert the units from inch to meter. For example, if your height is 60 inches, you would multiply 60 by 0.025 and get the answer of 1.5 meters.
The square of the results just found. Next, you need to multiply the number you just found by itself. For example, if the result is 1.5, you would multiply 1.5 by 1.5. In this case, your answer will be 2.25.
Multiply your weight in pounds by 0.45. The number 0.45 is the factor used to convert pounds to kilograms. This will help you convert your weight to metric units. For example, if your weight is 150 pounds, your answer would be 67.5.
Divide big numbers by small numbers. Divide the converted weight by your squared height. For example, you would divide 67.5 by 2.25. The answer 30 in this example is your BMI. advertisement
Method 4 of 4: Why should you try this?
Calculate your BMI to determine your weight condition. The BMI is important because it tells you whether you are underweight, overweight, obese or underweight.
- A BMI below 18.5 means you are underweight.
- A BMI of 18.6 to 24.9 is healthy.
- A BMI of 25 to 29.9 means you are overweight.
- A BMI of 30 or more indicates obesity.
Use your BMI to see if you need to have weight loss surgery. In some cases, your BMI must be some degree higher if you want to have weight loss surgery. For example, to be eligible for weight loss surgery in the UK, you need to have a BMI of at least 35 if you are not diabetic and a BMI of at least 30 if you have diabetes.
Track changes in BMI. You can use the BMI to track your weight. For example, if you want to track your weight loss progress, it can be helpful to calculate your BMI regularly. Or, if you want to track your own or your child's growth, one of the things you can do is calculate and track your BMI.
Calculate your BMI before considering expensive and invasive methods. People with a BMI below 25 are generally considered healthy. However, if your muscle percentage is higher than normal, your BMI will also be higher. In this case, a BMI higher than 25 does not mean you are overweight. If you have muscle, try the skin fold test to see if you have a lot of fat.
- Besides skin fold thickness testing, underwater body weight measurement, dual energy X-ray absorption (DXA) and bioelectricity are all popular ways to determine muscle fat mass. can. Note, however, that these methods are usually more expensive and more invasive than calculating BMI.
Advice
- Another simple way to determine weight status is to calculate the waist-to-hip ratio to see the amount of fat in the waist, also known as visceral fat. The high amount of visceral fat also poses a serious health risk.
- There are a number of calculators available online that you can use if you are having trouble calculating your BMI yourself.
- Maintaining a healthy weight is perhaps the most important step in staying healthy and extending longevity. The BMI helps you determine if you need to lose weight. Remember that a BMI above 25 indicates you are overweight and a BMI of 30 means you are obese, which is very dangerous to your health.
Warning
- The BMI is relatively useful for people between the ages of 25 and 65. However, it has some limitations. You may not know your muscle mass or body shape (such as an "apple" or "pear" shape).
What you need
- Healthy weight
- A folding ruler or measuring tape
- Pencil and paper
- Computer
