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 for most people.

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 Is BMI Calculated?

The calculator uses the formula:

Where:

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

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

3. BMI Categories

Standard Categories:

• Underweight: BMI < 18.5
• Normal weight: 18.5 ≤ BMI < 25
• Overweight: 25 ≤ BMI < 30
• 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 people who have lost muscle mass.

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

Q3: Can children use this calculator?
A: Children's BMI is interpreted differently using age and sex-specific percentiles.

Q4: How do I convert pounds to kilograms?
A: 1 pound = 0.453592 kilograms.

Q5: How do I convert feet/inches to meters?
A: 1 foot = 0.3048 meters, 1 inch = 0.0254 meters.