1. What is Body Mass Index (BMI)?

Body Mass Index (BMI) is a person's weight in kilograms divided by the square of height in meters. BMI is an inexpensive and easy screening method for weight category—underweight, healthy weight, overweight, and obesity.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the standard BMI formula:

Where:

• \( weight \) — Body weight in kilograms (kg)
• \( height \) — Height in meters (m)

Explanation: BMI provides a simple numeric measure of a person's thickness or thinness, allowing health professionals to discuss weight problems more objectively with their patients.

3. Importance of BMI Calculation

Details: BMI is used as a screening tool to identify possible weight problems for adults. However, BMI is not a diagnostic tool. To determine if excess weight is a health risk, a healthcare provider would need to perform further assessments.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter weight in kilograms and height in meters. For accurate results, measure weight without heavy clothing and height without shoes. All values must be valid (weight > 0, height > 0).

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What are the BMI categories for adults?
A: Underweight: BMI < 18.5; Normal weight: BMI 18.5-24.9; Overweight: BMI 25-29.9; Obesity: BMI ≥ 30.

Q2: Is BMI accurate for everyone?
A: BMI may not be accurate for athletes (may have high BMI due to muscle mass), elderly (may have normal BMI but low muscle mass), and certain ethnic groups.

Q3: Can BMI be used for children?
A: No, this calculator is for adults only. Children and teens need age and sex-specific BMI percentiles.

Q4: What if I know my weight in pounds and height in inches?
A: Convert pounds to kg (divide by 2.205) and inches to meters (multiply by 0.0254) before using this calculator.

Q5: Why does CDC recommend BMI screening?
A: BMI is a reliable indicator of body fatness for most people and is used to screen for weight categories that may lead to health problems.