How to Determine Your BMI

BMI, or Body Mass Index, is a measurement of body fat based on height and weight. BMI is a calculation that can be used to determine if you are underweight, a normal weight, overweight, or obese. BMI is a problematic calculation, as it does not take into account people who have a slightly higher lean body mass. Since muscle weighs more than fat, a muscular person can be considered "overweight" by BMI standards. For that reason, BMI is often disregarded.

Things You'll Need

• Scale
• Calculator (optional)

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Instructions

Imperial BMI Formula

• 1

  Weigh yourself on an accurate scale. Multiply your weight in pounds by 703. For example, if you weigh 165 lbs, multiply this number by 703, so 165 x 703 = 115,995.

• 2

  Measure your height in inches and square it. For example, if you are 6 feet tall, you are 72 inches tall. Square this number (72^2 or 72 x 72) = 5,184.

• 3

  Divide the number in Step 1 by the number in Step 2. 115,995 / 5,184 = 22.4 (rounded). This is considered a normal BMI.

Metric Imperial BMI Formula

• 4

  Use your weight in kilograms as your numerator. Pounds / 2.2 = kilograms, so 165 lbs. / 2.2 = 75 kg.

• 5

  Square your height in meters. One meter = 39.3700787 inches. Using the the example, 72 in. = 1.8288 m. So, 1.8288 m^2 = 3.3445 m.

• 6

  Divide the number in Step 1 by the number in Step 2. 75 kg. / 3.3445 m. = 22.4.

  This is considered a normal BMI.