BMI Calculator
What is a Body Mass Index Calculator?
A body mass index calculator is a math equation that takes your height and weight into account to alert doctors to a possible health problem.
What is Body Mass Index?
Body mass index is the standard measurement used by health professionals to determine whether you are too light, too heavy or just right with regards to your weight.
The BMI measurement is based upon your height to weight ratio.
A 5′ tall person who weighs 165 pounds calculates to “Above 30″ on the Body Mass Index and is considered obese. A 5′ 10″ tall person who weighs 165 pounds calculates to between 18.5 and 24.9 on the index and is considered normal.
Body Mass Index Calculator
How accurate is a Body Mass Index Calculator?
For the average person, a BMI calculation can be a fairly accurate indication of whether you are over or underweight.
But…
Accuracy problems arise because BMI calculators don’t factor in different body types like large-boned or small-boned people, or different lifestyle types, like sedentary couch potatoes or bodybuilders.
Here’s an example of how a Body Mass Index calculation could be seriously flawed.
A 6′ tall man who weighs 250 pounds would be considered obese according to the BMI calculator.
That calculation might be accurate for Mr. Beer-Guzzling-Do-Nothing-But-Watch-TV-Dude. But it would be totally false for Mr. 6%-Body-Fat-Bodybuilder-Dude.
Calculating Body Mass Index
It is generally considered wise to calculate body mass index for men and to calculate body mass index for women differently. Makes sense, as women typically have higher body fat levels than men.
Using the Body Mass Index Calculator.
Body Mass Index calculators are helpful but not perfect.
Before you plug your height and weight into the calculator take a look in the mirror.
If your belly is spilling over your boxer shorts or your body is thick and spongy like it’s made out of bread dough then your BMI might be accurate.
If you have an awesome set of six-pack abs and 21″ biceps then the Body Mass Index Calculator probably won’t help you much.
