1. What is BMI?

Definition: Body Mass Index (BMI) is a person's weight in kilograms divided by the square of height in meters.

Purpose: BMI is a screening tool that may indicate whether a person is underweight, healthy weight, overweight, or obese.

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 is divided by the square of height to calculate the body mass index.

3. BMI Categories

Details: According to CDC:

• Underweight: BMI less than 18.5
• Normal weight: BMI 18.5-24.9
• Overweight: BMI 25-29.9
• Obesity: BMI 30 or greater

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 adults who have lost muscle mass.

Q2: How do I convert pounds to kilograms?
A: 1 pound = 0.453592 kilograms. Multiply pounds by 0.453592 to get kilograms.

Q3: How do I convert feet/inches to meters?
A: 1 foot = 0.3048 meters, 1 inch = 0.0254 meters. Convert feet to meters, inches to meters, then add them together.

Q4: What are the limitations of BMI?
A: BMI doesn't directly measure body fat and doesn't account for muscle mass, bone density, or fat distribution.

Q5: Should children use this calculator?
A: No, children and teens need age- and sex-specific BMI calculations. This calculator is for adults 20 years and older.