BMI (body mass index) helps to determine whether your weight is optimal. A BMI calculation will determine how much your body weight corresponds to height and assess whether you are underweight, normal, overweight, or obese.
Body mass index is used to assess the condition of both adults and children. The BMI for adults and children is calculated using the same formula but interpreted differently. This is because children and adults have different body proportions and, accordingly, a different height to weight ratio.
Body mass index (BMI) is calculated by the following formula:
“weight ÷ height²”
For example, if your height is 1.92 m and your weight is 88 kg, your BMI is 88 ÷ (1.92)² or 23.8.
If a person’s body mass index (BMI) is 25 or higher, they are considered “overweight.” A person whose BMI is 30 or more is considered obese.
The Belgian sociologist and statistician Adolphe Quetelet developed the body mass index in 1869. The formula doesn’t take into account the sex and age of a person, despite the fact that the BMI of men is higher than the BMI of women and the BMI for middle-aged people is higher than for children and the elderly.
The ideal BMI for people aged 18 to 40 is 19-25; after forty, it’s 19-30. But, the norms are not the standard. For example, an athlete always has a high height-weight index, but that does not mean they are overweight.
What is a Healthy BMI?
In accordance with WHO recommendations, the following interpretation of BMI indicators has been developed:
Body mass index correspondence between a person’s weight and height
- less than 16.5 = Pronounced underweight
- 16.5 – 18.49 = Insufficient (deficit) body weight
- 18.5 – 24.99 = Normal
- 25 – 29.99 = Overweight (pre obesity)
- 30 – 34.99 = Obesity of the first degree
- 35 – 39.99 = Obesity of the second degree
- 40 or more = Obesity of the third degree
The body mass index should be used with caution, only for an approximate assessment. For example, an attempt to evaluate the physique of professional athletes may give an incorrect result (the high value of the index, in this case, is due to developed muscles).
You can use the body mass index calculator to determine the optimal weight. It is available online on our website.
The availability and ease with which one can calculate body mass make it very popular among the population. If the index exceeds the number 30, then this most likely indicates obesity.
It must be understood that the body mass index is not suitable for making a diagnosis, but it can help in trying out a new fitness program or diet. The BMI calculator will give you a starting point and allow you to track changes in body weight.
Average BMI for Men and Women
The body mass index for women is considered normal if the indicator is in the 20 to 22 range. For men, this indicator should be from 23 to 25. Statistics show that people with a BMI in the 18 – 22 range live longer on average than those with weight problems.
If your BMI is over 25, then this is a signal that you need to change your lifestyle. It is important to note that the formula used to calculate the body mass index may overestimate the obesity rate for athletes since the calculation does not take muscle mass into account.
What is a BMI Chart for Women and Men?
BMI charts for women and men are the same. The following is an imperial BMI table:
And a metric BMI table:
The body mass index measures the ratio of a person’s weight to height. This parameter helps to determine deviations from normal body weight in one direction or the other. Excess weight is dangerous for a person’s health, as it often leads to heart disease.
The online body mass index calculator allows you to quickly and accurately find out how your weight indicator corresponds to the norm.
