What is BMI?

BMI stands for Body Mass Index. It is an equation using your height and weight, which are easy to measure. Use the calculator below to find your BMI.  INSTRUCTIONS:  Choose Imperial (US) or Metric (outside US). For Imperial, you first enter the feet part of your height in the first field and the inches into the second field. 

EXAMPLE:  If you are 5'7", you would enter 5 in the first field and 7 in the second field, then enter your weight in pounds.   

Your BMI compared to the normal BMI range is a way to estimate excess body weight.  BMI does not directly measure body fat. There are ways to directly measure body fat, but they are not practical in a clinical setting.  Note that changes in your BMI are due to changes in your weight since adult height stays the same.  

The purpose of the BMI is to screen for health risks that could be associated with a weight that is disproportionate to height.  The most common reason for a disproportionate body weight is excess body fat.  Therefore, BMI is one way to estimate your current health and health risks. BMI can be used along with other measures to help determine an individual's healthy body weight.

BMI has some limitations. It does not indicate how body fat is distributed. For example, a person who has a BMI of 30 and carries most of their weight in their lower body (think "pear" shape) generally has lower health risks compared to another person with a BMI of 30 that carries their weight in their belly (think "apple" shape). BMI may underestimate the amount of body fat in older people who have lost muscle. In some groups, such as those of Asian descent, normal values for BMI are lower.  

When considering your BMI, your weight, and your health, a common sense approach is needed.  When you look at your body, do you see a healthy body at a weight that is comfortable for you?  What, if anything, would you like to change?