A Quick Guide on How to Calculate BMI

5 min read
A Quick Guide on How to Calculate BMI

The equation for calculating BMI can look intimidating. With the correct steps, you will know how to calculate BMI on your own! 

Calculating BMI is a helpful tool in measuring progress and overall health. Whether you are trying to reach a goal weight or merely tracking your body mass for information purposes, calculating BMI is a simple and beneficial unit of measurement.

After reading through this guide, you will be well on your way to calculating your BMI. You might even try your hand at figuring your friends, parents, even girlfriend’s BMI!

Okay, maybe not, but at least you can proudly brag to everybody you know that you can do it (even if they don’t want you to!).

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What is BMI

BMI (or Body Mass Index) is a measurement that uses a person’s height and weight to calculate body fat.

Some specific calculators also ask for age, ethnicity, gender, etc.; however, these calculators may not be accurate. Traditional BMI calculations do not need these factors to find the result.

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The BMI Table is as follows:

Underweight: If your BMI is less than 18.5

Normal/Healthy: 18.5-24.9

Overweight: 25-29.9

Obese: 30.0 or higher

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How to Calculate BMI

The equation for BMI is as follows:

BMI= kg/m²

kg= a person’s weight in kilograms

m²= height in meters squared

How to Convert Pounds to Kilograms

To calculate your weight from the standard US measurement of pounds into metric-form kilograms, simply divide your weight in pounds by 2.2046.

kg=your weight/2.2046

How to Convert Inches to Meters

The conversion from inches to meters is as follows:

meters=inches x .0254

After you find this answer, you must remember that you need meters squared.

Example:

For a person who is 5’9″ and 148 lbs, here are the following calculations:

Height:

69 x .0254 = 1.756 meters

1.756² = 3.0716

Weight:

148/2.2046 = 67.1323

BMI Calculation:

67.1323/3.0715= 21.856 BMI

What’s the Fuss About Knowing Your BMI?

a_quick_Guide_on_how_to_calculate_bmiCalculating your BMI is a way for you to know if you have a healthy body size for your height.

BMI is also a way for doctors to track population trends and identify potential health risks in individuals.

Worldwide, around 1.5 billion people over the age of 20 are considered overweight and/or obese.

Using a standard measurement like BMI, this data is easily tracked and managed by doctors around the globe.

a_quick_Guide_on_how_to_calculate_bmiDepending on a BMI calculation, doctors can make recommendations and create health care plans to help patients reach health goals.

Personally, BMI calculations help measure progress over time. Whether a person is trying to reach a goal weight or maintain a healthy lifestyle, BMI gives accurate data.

One Final Note About Calculating BMI

Any trip to the doctor (or doctor Google) will tell you that BMI is not a perfect indication of health.

Because body types are so different, muscle weighs more than fat, and hereditary factors all contribute to body type, BMI can often be inaccurate.

It is crucial to find a doctor who will look at the whole picture as opposed to just a BMI calculation to create a health plan that will benefit your wellbeing.

BMI is useful as a method of tracking, but do not use it as the only method. Athletes and health advocates can agree that even if a BMI is indicating overweight, that many adults are the epitome of health.

Conclusion

Calculating BMI is easy and quick. Next time you are looking for a way to track your weight and overall health, consider calculating your BMI for informative and accurate information. 

Do equations stump you just like this? ArgoPrep will prepare you for real-life applications through their award-winning practice books and support.

Calculating BMI helps understand health risks and create a wellness plan to benefit your overall wellbeing.

As with anything that has to do with your health, you must reach out to your physician before making any drastic changes to your health. Together, you and your doctor can create goals and a plan that will benefit your overall wellbeing!