
For children ages 2 – 20 years, BMI is plotted on a growth chart specific for age and gender. For adults the use of BMI to define overweight does not depend on age or gender. How is BMI calculated for children (2 – 20 years)īMI for children is calculated with the same formula for children and adults, but the results are interpreted differently. If you have questions or concerns about the appropriateness of your weight, please discuss them with your health care provider. It is important to remember that weight is only one factor related to disease. Therefore we do not know whether two people with the same BMI but different amounts of fat have different risks for disease. Most studies have examined the relationship between BMI and risk of disease. Such categories are based on scientific findings that the risk for disease increases as BMI increases. (Height in Meters) x (Height in Meters) Are people with a lot of muscle considered to be overweight when their BMI is over 25?Īccording to the weight categories, any person with a BMI over 25 would be classified as overweight. The only information required to calculate a person's BMI are height, weight, and the BMI formulaīMI=(Weight in Pounds / (Height in inches x Height in inches) ) x 703

The use of BMI allows people to compare their own weight status to the general population.

It is low-cost and easy to use for clinicians and the general public. BMI values below 19 for men and 18 for women indicate an underweight condition.Ĭalculate Your BMI Why is BMI or Body Mass Index used to measure overweight and obesity in the general adult population?Ĭalculating the BMI is one of the best methods for population assessment of overweight and obesity.
