How Do I Calculate My BMI? Health Benefits

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BMI is a way to determine if a person is underweight, normal weight, overweight or obese.

Body mass index (BMI) is a measurement of body fat based on height and weight. The formula for calculating BMI is given in Table 1 or you can use the body mass index calculator below.

Maintaining a healthy weight offers the following health benefits:

• Reduced risk of heart disease and certain cancers
• Better sleep quality
• Fewer muscle and joint pains
• Reduced risk of high blood pressure and diabetes
• Better regulation of bodily fluids
• Reduced burden on the heart and circulatory system
• High energy and ability to complete the desired activities
• Reduced cholesterol levels
• Reduced risk of gallbladder disease

Table 1. The Formula for Calculating BMI Measurement Units Formula and Calculation Kilograms and meters (or centimeters)

Formula: weight (kg) / height (m)²

The formula for BMI is weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared. If height has been measured in centimeters, divide by 100 to convert this to meters.

Pounds and inches

Formula: 703 x weight (lbs) / height (in)²

When using English measurements, pounds should be divided by inches squared. This should then be multiplied by 703 to convert from lbs/inches² to kg/m².

Example: If a person weighs 65 kg and the person’s height is 165 cm (1.65 m), the BMI is calculated as 65 ÷ (1.65)2 = 23.87 kg/m2, which means that the person has a BMI of 23.87 kg/m2 and is considered to have a healthy weight.

When calculating in pounds and inches, if a person weighs 120 lbs and the person’s height is 5 feet 6 inches (66 inches), the BMI is calculated as 703 x 120/(66)2 = 19.3 kg/m2, which means that the person has a BMI of 19.3 kg/m2 and is considered to have a healthy weight.

What is the body mass index (BMI)?

Body mass index (BMI) is a person’s weight in kilograms divided by the square of height in meters. It indicates the amount of body fat.

BMI is the most inexpensive screening tool to measure body fat. Although it does not directly measure body fat, it can be correlated with a more direct measure of body fat.

The various categories of BMI include

1. BMI values less than 18.5 kg/m2 are considered underweight
2. BMI values between 18.5 kg/m2 to 24.9 kg/m2 are healthy
3. BMI values between 25 kg/m2 to 30 kg/m2 are overweight
4. BMI values greater than 40 kg/m2 are considered obese

What is the ideal BMI?

The ideal weight has been mentioned in Table 2.

Table 2. Ideal Weight in lbs According to Height Height Minimal risk
(BMI under 25 kg/m²)  

Moderate risk
(BMI 25–29.9 kg/m²)
Overweight

 

High risk
(BMI 30 kg/m² and above)
Obese

4'10''

118 or less
119–142
143 or more

4'11''

123 or less
124–147
148 or more

5'0''

127 or less
128–152
153 or more

5'1''

131 or less
132–157
158 or more

5'2''

135 or less
136–163
164 or more

5'3''

140 or less
141–168
169 or more

5'4''

144 or less
145–173
174 or more

5'5''

149 or less
150–179
180 or more

5'6''

154 or less
155–185
186 or more

5'7''

158 or less
159–190
191 or more

5'8''

163 or less
164–196
197 or more

5'9''

168 or less
169–202
203 or more

5'10''

173 or less
174–208
209 or more

5'11''

178 or less
179–214
215 or more

6'0''

183 or less
184–220
221 or more

6'1''

188 or less
189–226
227 or more

6'2''

193 or less
194–232
233 or more

6'3''

199 or less
200–239
240 or more

6'4''

204 or less
205–245
246 or more