BMI Calculator

BMI Calculator

The Body Mass Index (BMI) measures body fat. Your BMI is determined by your weight and height. When you input the height as well as weight in the BMI calculator, you'll get a number. This number is one way to determine if you're at healthy or unhealthy weight.

Calculate Your BMI

Metric ImperialHeightWeight

Once you have you have your BMI number, you can use the chart below to determine whether you're required in order to increase weight maintain your weight, or lose weight.

BMI Chart- Adults (Age 20+)

BMI	Weight Status
Below 18.5	Underweight
18.5 - 24.9	Normal or Healthy Weight
25.0 - 29.9	Overweight
30.0 and over	Obese

This BMI calculator for teens and children is different than that used by adults. While it takes into account height and weight, it also uses age and gender. That's because male and female height and weight fluctuate during growth and development. For children, BMI is expressed as percentiles compared to other children similar in age and gender.

BMI Chart- Children and Teens (Ages 2 to 19)

Weight Status	Percentile Range
Underweight	5 1/5 percentile
Normal or Healthy Weight	5 5 to 85 5th to 85 percentile
Overweight	85 85 to <95 85 th to 95 percentile
Obese	95 the percentile or greater

If you're worried about your BMI or your child's BMIthen talk to your physician.

A path to improved health

If your BMI indicates that you're obese or overweight you can lower the BMI through losing weight. It can be accomplished by following the usual weight-loss guidelines, such as:

• Dietary health is important. Choose lean meats fruit, vegetables, along with whole-grain grains. Limit alcohol, sugar, processed foods, sodas, and juices. Consume fewer calories.
• Engaging in regular exercise.This includes cardio and lifting weights to build muscle and shed fat. This can help in controlling belly fat. Belly fat increases the risk of some health issues. Always consult with your doctor before you begin a workout routine.
• Being mindful of your portion control. Don't eat too much in between meals and snacks.

If your child's BMI is excessive (above the 85 ^th percentile) consult your doctor about ways you can help him or her shed weight.

Things to consider

If your BMI is indicating that you're overweight or fat, you could be at risk for developing certain diseases. These include diabetes, heart disease, arthritis, as well as certain cancers. BMI isn't a way to diagnose disease. It is, however, an important indicator that can encourage you to have a conversation with your doctor regarding ways to lose weight and decrease your BMI.

These tools should be used as a guide only. Don't rely on them to make decisions about your health or that of your child's. Always consult with your physician regarding your medical condition(s) or other circumstances prior to making any changes to your lifestyle.

Questions to ask your doctor

• When should I be concerned about what my child's weight is?
• When should I begin to check my BMI? When should I take a look?
• Which is the ideal weight for me?
• What is my child's ideal weight?
• Does BMI take into account muscles?
• How can I decrease my BMI?
• What can I do to aid my child in reducing the BMI of their child?
• How many years will it take to reduce BMI?