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BMI Calculator
BMI (Body Mass Index) is a simple height-to-weight screening indicator used to classify adult weight-related health categories, though it does not directly measure body fat. ...Read More
Your BMI is
22.7
Normal
BMI RANGE AND CATEGORY CHART
BMI table for adults
| CATEGORY | BMI RANGE kg/m2 |
| Underweight | <18.5 |
| Normal Weight | 18.5 - 24.9 |
| Overweight | 25 - 29.9 |
| Obese | >30 |
What is BMI?
Body Mass Index is a numerical ratio of weight to height used to evaluate an individual’s weight in relation to their weight category. Although it does not directly measure body fat, the BMI calculator helps classify individuals into four standard ranges: underweight (below 18.5), normal weight (18.5–24.9), overweight (25–29.9), and obese (30 or above).
BMI is a preliminary screening tool and does not account for muscle mass, bone density, or overall body composition. For example, athletes with high muscle mass may appear “overweight,” while very lean individuals may fall into lower categories despite being healthy.
Due to these limitations, BMI should be viewed as an indicator, rather than a diagnostic measure. Using a body mass index calculator allows users to quickly compute their BMI and determine their general weight category.
What is a BMI Calculator & Why Use it?
A BMI calculator is a simple digital tool that computes your Body Mass Index using basic inputs such as height, weight, and age. It instantly evaluates your BMI and places you into standard categories, including underweight, healthy weight, overweight, or obese.
Using a body mass index calculator makes it easier to monitor your weight and health status, understand potential health risks, and make informed decisions about fitness or weight management. It provides a quick, reliable starting point for long-term wellness tracking.
Maintaining a healthy BMI is also vital for financial planning, including life insurance. Insurers frequently use your BMI as one of the primary health factors for assessing eligibility and premium rates. A BMI in the healthy range may qualify you for greater coverage and reduced rates, but a higher BMI may result in higher expenditures owing to increased health risks. By measuring your BMI on a regular basis, you not only keep informed about your physical health, but you also position yourself to make better financial decisions in the future.
Health Tracking
Fitness Target Setting
Managing Weight
Overall Health Assessment
According to The Times of India, about 71% of Indians are metabolically unhealthy, showing the need to track BMI regularly. Regular use of a BMI calculator helps users track how their weight compares to their height over time, offering a clear view of changing health trends.
Frequent BMI checks create early awareness of risks such as becoming overweight or underweight. This ongoing monitoring supports proactive lifestyle adjustments, such as improved diet and activity levels, promoting long-term wellness and healthier daily habits.
BMI results provide a helpful starting point for setting realistic fitness goals, whether maintaining a healthy weight or planning safe weight loss or gain. Understanding BMI categories helps individuals design personalised exercise and nutrition plans. Tracking BMI progress with a body mass index calculator also enhances motivation, encourages consistency, and supports improved fitness outcomes over time.
Results from a BMI calculator offer practical guidance for effective weight management. They help determine whether a person may need to gain or lose weight to stay within a healthier range. Observing BMI trends over time allows users to adjust diet, physical activity, and lifestyle habits, supporting sustainable and safe weight management customised to their individual health needs.
Only 26.6% of Indians are physically fit, underscoring the need for continuous overall health assessment. Just as tools like a BMI calculator support long-term health planning, choosing financial products such as term insurance also contributes to overall security and well-being. It provides a general sense of overall health status and indicates when professional medical advice may be necessary.
While it does not diagnose diseases, using a body mass index calculator helps individuals monitor their health more effectively and plan appropriate wellness strategies for long-term well-being.
BMI Formula & How to Calculate BMI
BMI is a numerical ratio of weight to height used to assess weight status in both adults and children. It can be calculated using metric or imperial units, and the results are compared with standard BMI categories such as underweight, normal weight, overweight, and obese to understand overall health status.
BMI Formula
The BMI calculation formula is:
BMI = weight (kg) ÷ height² (m²)
For example,
70 kg and 177 cm (1.77 m) → 70 ÷ 3.13 = 22.34, a normal BMI.
The imperial formula:
BMI = (weight (lb) ÷ height² (in²)) × 703
For example: 154 lb and 5'10" (70 in) → (154 ÷ 4900) × 703 = 22.1, also normal.
Step-by-Step Calculation
Here are the steps to calculate BMI:
Step 1: Measure Your Height and Weight: Begin by recording your height and weight as accurately as possible for reliable results.
Step 2: Square Your Height: Convert height into metres or inches, then square the value (height × height).
Step 3: Apply the BMI Formula: Divide your weight by your squared height. If using pounds/inches, multiply the outcome by 703.
Step 4: Verify Using a BMI Calculator: Use a BMI calculator to confirm your result instantly and compare it with standard BMI categories.
Step 5: Track BMI Over Time: Regular BMI checks help you stay aware of changes in your weight and health trends, supporting better long-term decisions.
Ideal BMI for Men
The BMI calculation requires the height and weight of any person and is the same for everyone above 20 years old. The standard BMI for men ranges from 18.5 to 24.9. If a person's BMI is below 18.5, he is underweight and must consider taking measures to increase his body weight.
On the other hand, if a person’s BMI is 30 or higher, as per calculation he is overweight and is prone to obesity-related health conditions. To avoid such conditions, he must take measures to reduce his weight.
Ideal BMI for Women
Similar to men, the ideal BMI for adult women also ranges from 18.5 to 24.9. If a body index calculator shows your BMI below 18.5, you are underweight. However, if the calculator shows a BMI above 25, you are overweight.
Ideal BMI for Children
BMI for children differs from that for adults because children grow rapidly and experience puberty-related changes that affect body fat distribution. Although the BMI formula is the same, interpreting results requires considering age and gender, as both influence healthy growth patterns.
Instead of fixed categories, children’s BMI is assessed using percentiles, with a healthy range between the 5th and 85th percentiles. These percentiles help identify early risks of underweight, overweight, or obesity, allowing timely lifestyle guidance.
However, BMI is only a screening tool. Healthcare professionals must also assess diet, activity level, medical history, and overall development for an accurate health assessment.
Calculating BMI for Kids
BMI for children is calculated using the same weight-to-height formula as adults, but interpretation depends on age- and gender-specific percentiles. These percentiles classify kids as underweight, healthy weight, overweight, or obese. Using a BMI calculator helps determine their category, but BMI remains only a screening tool, not a diagnostic measure.
BMI Table For Children and Teens, Age 2-20
Here is a clear and easy-to-understand BMI table for children and teens, ages 2–20, based on BMI-for-age percentile categories used by the CDC:
Percentile Range |
Weight Category |
What It Means |
< 5th percentile |
Underweight |
The child may be undernourished or have low growth; requires medical assessment. |
5th – < 85th percentile |
Healthy Weight |
Weight is considered appropriate for age, sex, and height. |
85th – < 95th percentile |
Overweight |
Elevated weight for age; lifestyle evaluation recommended. |
≥ 95th percentile |
Obesity |
Significantly high weight for age; medical guidance is advised. |
Risks Associated with Being Overweight
Here is a list of crucial health risks that overweight people are vulnerable to:
- Hernia
- Breathing problem
- High blood pressure
- High triglycerides
- Type 2 diabetes
- Stroke
- Heart conditions
- High LDL cholesterol level
- Low HDL cholesterol in blood, increasing the chances of coronary artery blockages and heart attack
- Insulin resistance
- Complications in gallbladder
- Gout
- Cataract
- Mental health issues and clinical depression
- Urge to frequent urination or stress incontinence
- PCOS in women leading to menstrual irregularities and lower chances of fertility
- Osteoarthritis or breakdown of cartilage in joints leading to pain in joints
- Sleep apnea
Risks Associated with Being Underweight
The points below list some diseases and health issues that can affect an underweight person.
- Growth and development delays in children
- Malnutrition
- Anaemia
- Vitamin deficiencies
- Brittle bones or osteoporosis
- Weakened immunity leads to failure of body's ability to defend against diseases
- Disruption in the menstrual cycle in women and complexities with conception
- Hormonal imbalances
Is BMI Reliable?
The BMI is a widely recognised screening tool that helps identify general weight categories in both adults and children. While it does not directly measure body fat, it offers a valuable overview of weight-related health risks.
For children, interpretation must take age and gender into account to ensure accuracy. BMI is exceptionally reliable for tracking weight trends over time, supporting broader health awareness and prevention efforts.
It also guides practical lifestyle changes, including balanced nutrition and increased physical activity. Although not diagnostic, BMI is a valuable metric when combined with other health indicators, making it a useful metric in everyday wellness assessments.
BMI Chart
A person’s Body-Mass Index, or BMI, helps them check whether they’re a healthy weight for their height. If a person weighs less or more than the recommended weight for their height, it could lead to health issues in the future. While BMI is not the only factor individuals should consider while working on their health and fitness, it is a good starting point. To understand what your BMI is, you need to know your height and weight. You can then check your BMI against the BMI chart:
The table below displays BMI for adults above 20 years old. The result on the BMI calculator for adults is the same for both men and women.
BMI |
Weight Status |
Below 18.5 |
Underweight |
18.5-24.9 |
Healthy |
25-29.9 |
Overweight |
Above 30 |
Obese |
BMI Formula
The standard formula to calculate BMI looks like this.
BMI= Your weight / (height^2)
To understand this, let’s assume, your height is 177 cm or 1.77 m and your weight is 70 kg.
Therefore as per the formula above, your BMI will be
BMI= 70/ (1.77*1.77)= 22.36
So, according to the body weight index calculator, your BMI falls between 18.5 and 25 which means you are healthy.
BMI Table For Children and Teens, Age 2-20
The table below displays age-for-sex BMI categories and their corresponding percentile for children and teens.
BMI Percentile |
Health Status |
Less than 5th percentile |
Underweight |
5th percentile to 85th percentile |
Healthy weight |
85th percentile to 95th percentile |
Overweight |
Equal or more than 95th percentile |
Obese |
You can use the growth charts given by the Indian Academy of Pediatrics (IAP) to calculate height, weight and BMI of children of the same age and gender.
Limitations of an Online BMI Calculator
An online BMI calculator provides only a basic estimate of weight status and may not reflect an individual's actual body composition. Since it relies solely on height and weight, results should be interpreted with caution.
Factors such as age, gender, pubertal stage, and individual body differences can affect accuracy, underscoring the need for additional health indicators. Like a term insurance calculator, which offers only preliminary estimates, an online BMI calculator provides a basic understanding of health and should be paired with additional assessments.
Adults
The limitations of an online BMI calculator for adults are:
Limited Measurement Factors: Adult BMI is based solely on height and weight, overlooking key factors such as muscle mass, bone density, and fat distribution, which can affect one’s overall health.
Gender Variations: Gender differences influence BMI results, as women naturally tend to have higher body fat than men, even when their BMI values are the same.
Misclassification of Muscular Individuals: Muscular or athletic adults may be classified as overweight despite having a healthy body composition, because the BMI does not differentiate between muscle and fat.
General Nature of BMI: BMI provides only a broad indication of health and should not be treated as a complete or definitive assessment of an individual’s well-being.
Need for Additional Health Indicators: Measures such as waist circumference, lifestyle habits, and the use of a body mass index calculator offer more comprehensive insight into overall health than BMI alone.
Young Adults and Children
The limitations of an online BMI calculator for young adults and children are:
Age- and Gender-Based Interpretation: The interpretation of BMI for young adults and children depends heavily on age and gender because growth patterns and puberty significantly influence body composition.
Limited Accuracy During Rapid Growth: A BMI calculator with age provides only a rough estimate, as height and weight can change rapidly during adolescence, reducing the reliability of the results.
Influence of Puberty on Body Composition: Puberty alters fat and muscle distribution differently for each child, making BMI alone insufficient for accurate health evaluation.
Screening, Not Diagnosis: While useful for initial screening, BMI cannot replace a professional medical assessment that considers additional physical and developmental factors.
Value of Tracking Trends Over Time: Monitoring BMI trends helps identify early health risks and supports timely lifestyle guidance and medical interventions to support healthier growth.
Path to Improved Health
If your BMI calculator results diagnose your health status to be overweight or obese, it's high time to take action right away. You can inculcate the following habits to adjust your BMI to healthy levels:
Monitor Weight and BMI Regularly
Tracking weight and BMI over time is essential for understanding progress toward a healthy range. Checking measurements weekly or monthly using a BMI calculator helps identify patterns and make timely adjustments to diet, exercise, or lifestyle habits. Staying consistent with long-term wellness habits works much like selecting suitable life insurance plans, which also require regular review and informed decision-making. Regular monitoring also boosts motivation and supports long-term wellness goals.
Get Adequate Sleep
Sufficient sleep helps regulate metabolism, hormone balance, and appetite, key factors in weight management. Lack of sleep increases cravings, reduces energy, and promotes fat storage. Aim for 7 to 9 hours of quality sleep each night. Good sleep, alongside healthy eating and exercise, helps maintain a balanced BMI and overall well-being.
Manage Stress Effectively
1 out of 2 urban Indians suffers from chronic stress, leading to an unhealthy BMI. Stress can trigger hormonal shifts and lead to emotional eating, negatively affecting BMI.
Techniques such as meditation, yoga, deep breathing, and mindfulness help manage stress and improve overall stability. Using tools like a BMI index calculator alongside stress-management habits supports sustainable weight control and long-term health improvement.
Alternate Estimates of Weight-Related Health Risks
As already discussed, BMI calculators are not always a reliable option for knowing your health status. Instead of BMI, you can use the following alternative methods to track your weight.
Waist Circumference
Measuring your waist helps to determine fat stored in your body more accurately than BMI. With waist circumference, you can know where most fat in your body is getting stored and whether you are overweight or not.
If your waist circumference is above 35 inches for women and 40 inches for men, you might run a higher health risk of contracting chronic illnesses. To measure your waist circumference, place a tape around your mid-region, above your hip bones and measure the circumference.
Waist-to-Hip Ratio
Waist-to-hip ratio is another way for doctors and dieticians to determine whether you are overweight, obese or underweight. To calculate your health status, this ratio takes fats stored around your hips, waist and buttocks into consideration.
Unlike BMI, waist-to-hip ratio is a comparison between the fat stored around your waist and hips. As per research, people who carry more weight around their waist-hip region tend to be overweight. They stand at high risk of health conditions like type-2 diabetes and other health issues.
The World Health Organisation states that the ideal waist-to-hip ratio for men is 0.9 or less and for women, it is 0.85 or less.
Waist-to-Height Ratio
This ratio compares your waist circumference to your height and presents results to reflect fat distribution in your body. According to studies, a person's weight-to-height ratio is a good indicator of their vulnerability to heart attack and other health conditions related to obesity.
The ideal weight-to-height ratio is 0.50 for both men and women. A ratio above 0.50 indicates that the person is verging towards obesity and will be vulnerable to health issues like diabetes and high cholesterol.
FAQs on BMI Calculator
How do I calculate my BMI?
You can calculate BMI manually by using the formula: BMI= Weight / (height^2). For instant results, you can opt for a BMI calculator available online.
Is a BMI of 20 a lot?
According to the BMI chart for adults, if your body mass index is 20, you are in great shape and health.
How much should I weigh for my height and age?
A BMI calculator helps estimate a healthy weight by comparing height, weight, and age. Using this calculator, adults typically fall into a healthy BMI range of 18.5–24.9. Since age affects body composition, results should be used as guidance rather than a strict target.
What is the BMI of 70 kg and 170 cm?
Using the BMI calculation formula, BMI = weight (kg) ÷ height (m²). For 70 kg and 170 cm (1.70 m), BMI = 70 ÷ 2.89 = 24.2. You can verify this instantly using a BMI calculator (kg or BMI index), which classifies the result as the upper end of the healthy range.
What should a 5'5" female weigh?
A BMI calculator online shows that a healthy BMI range of 18.5–24.9 corresponds to 5’5” (165 cm) females weighing roughly 50–68 kg. Using any body mass index calculator helps check where an individual falls within this range. Weight goals should take into account age, body composition, and overall health.
What is the BMI for 75 kg?
To find BMI, you must pair 75 kg with height in the BMI calculation formula. For example, at 170 cm (1.70 m), BMI = 75 ÷ 2.89 = 25.9, indicating overweight. Tools like the BMI calculator kg provide quick category results based on accurate inputs.
Is BMI accurate for South Asian ethnicity?
A BMI calculator provides general guidance, but South Asians face higher metabolic risks at lower BMI levels. Many health bodies recommend lower cut-offs for overweight and obesity. Using a body mass index calculator helps track trends, but ethnicity-specific risks mean clinical assessments, waist measurements, and lifestyle factors should complement BMI for accurate results.
Which is more accurate for measuring body fat, BMI or a DEXA scan?
BMI from any BMI index calculator or BMI calculator kg estimates weight status, but does not directly measure fat. A DEXA scan is far more accurate because it analyses bone, muscle, and fat distribution. A BMI calculator India is helpful for screening, but DEXA provides precise body composition data for medical or fitness evaluation.
What is a healthy weight for a 5’10” male?
Using a BMI calculator with age, a healthy BMI of 18.5–24.9 for a 5’10” (178 cm) male corresponds to roughly 60kg to 80 kg. A body mass index calculator helps determine whether the weight falls within a healthy range, but fitness level and muscle mass should also be considered.
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