1. What is Body Mass Index (BMI)?

Definition: BMI is a numerical value calculated from a person's weight and height that provides a reliable indicator of body fatness.

Purpose: It's used to screen for weight categories that may lead to health problems but is not diagnostic of body fatness or health.

2. How Does the BMI Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the formula:

Where:

• \( BMI \) — Body Mass Index (kg/m²)
• \( W \) — Weight (kilograms)
• \( H \) — Height (meters)

Explanation: The weight in kilograms is divided by the square of height in meters.

3. BMI Categories

Details:

• Underweight: BMI < 18.5
• Normal weight: BMI 18.5-24.9
• Overweight: BMI 25-29.9
• Obesity: BMI ≥ 30

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter your weight in kilograms and height in meters. All values must be > 0.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: Is BMI accurate for everyone?
A: BMI may overestimate body fat in athletes and underestimate it in older persons who have lost muscle mass.

Q2: What's a healthy BMI range?
A: For most adults, a healthy BMI is between 18.5 and 24.9.

Q3: Can children use this calculator?
A: Children and teens need age- and sex-specific percentiles rather than adult categories.

Q4: How do I convert pounds to kilograms?
A: 1 pound = 0.453592 kg. Multiply pounds by 0.45 to get approximate kg.

Q5: How do I convert feet/inches to meters?
A: 1 foot = 0.3048 m, 1 inch = 0.0254 m. For example, 5'7" = (5×0.3048) + (7×0.0254) = 1.70 m.