BMI Calculator
Enter your weight and height to get your body mass index, your category, and the healthy weight range for your height.
| BMI | Category (WHO) |
|---|---|
| Below 18.5 | Underweight |
| 18.5 – 24.9 | Healthy weight |
| 25 – 29.9 | Overweight |
| 30 – 34.9 | Obesity class I |
| 35 – 39.9 | Obesity class II |
| 40 and above | Obesity class III |
What is BMI?
Body mass index is weight in kilograms divided by height in metres squared: BMI = kg ÷ m². For someone who weighs 70 kg and is 1.75 m tall, BMI = 70 ÷ (1.75 × 1.75) = 22.9. It is a quick screening measure used by the World Health Organization to classify adults as underweight, healthy, overweight or obese.
Why there are Asian cut-offs
People of South Asian, East Asian and other Asian backgrounds tend to have higher body fat and a higher risk of type 2 diabetes and heart disease at the same BMI. A WHO expert consultation published in The Lancet (2004) identified 23 (increased risk) and 27.5 (high risk) as public-health action points for Asian populations, lower than the international 25 and 30. If you are of South Asian origin, the Asian option gives a more cautious reading.
Limits of BMI
- It cannot tell muscle from fat, so athletes may read as “overweight”.
- It says nothing about where fat is stored; waist size is another useful measure.
- Adult cut-offs do not apply to children and teenagers, who are assessed with growth charts.
- It is not meant for pregnancy.
BMI is a starting point for a conversation with a doctor, not a diagnosis.
Frequently asked questions
- What is a healthy BMI?
- 18.5 to 24.9 by the WHO international scale. Under the WHO Asian cut-offs, the healthy range ends at 22.9 because health risks start rising at 23.
- How do I calculate BMI in pounds and feet?
- Choose lb / feet + inches in the calculator. Manually: BMI = 703 × weight in pounds ÷ (height in inches)². The calculator converts to kg and metres for you.
- Is BMI accurate for women and older adults?
- The same cut-offs are used for adult men and women. At the same BMI, women and older adults usually carry more body fat, so BMI can underestimate fat for them.
- Is my data stored?
- No. The calculation happens in your browser and nothing is sent anywhere.
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