BMI Calculator

Body Mass Index or BMI indicates the fat content in someone’s body. BMI does not only cater to the weight of a person but their weight also. On the basis of the value calculated, a person can be categorised as obese, overweight, normal, or underweight. Based on these categories the health effects on a person can be studied. Here’s the formula to calculate BMI, BMI = weight (kg) ÷ (height (m))2. However, you can make use of a free BMI calculator online and find the accurate answer in a matter of seconds.

What is a Body Mass Index (BMI) Calculator?

Body mass index (BMI) is a measure of the amount of body fat based on the height and weight of an adult male or female. BMI is a major determinant of one's obesity or leanness. In addition, BMI is a reliable and quick way to assess a person's health. This is an economical and simple way to check weight categories that may lead to medical problems in the future.

The BMI calculator is an online or offline tool that is widely used as a reliable indicator of a person's healthy body weight for their height. It lets you determine whether you are underweight or overweight for your height. So how healthy are you and are you within the normal weight range?

BMI calculators play an important role in understanding your health. Your BMI being high or low can be a matter of concern as it can lead to many health problems as you age. Therefore, when evaluating your health status, BMI remains one of the key health parameters. The calculator is a common one and there is no different BMI calculator for men and BMI calculator for women. In this article, we will explore what a body mass index calculator is and details about BMI.

Benefits of Body Mass Index Calculator

The advantages of BMI are that it gives an estimate of whether your weight is commensurate with your height or not, and the BMI calculator helps you to get this ratio. The reasons why you should use the BMI calculator are as follows:

• This tool gives an estimate of whether you are underweight, average body weight, overweight or obese.

• It helps your doctor or nutritionist to understand the percentage of fat in your body. With this, based on BMI, the doctor will be able to chart your diet and exercise routine accordingly.

• This tool quickly calculates BMI and you get the results in a matter of seconds.

How to Calculate BMI Using BMI Calculator

Calculating BMI is not a difficult process. This can be done either manually with the help of the BMI formula or using your regular calculator or by using effective tools available online on various websites and apps. When calculating your or someone's BMI using the calculator, all you need to do is,

• Step 1: Use a weighing scale to check your weight. Note down the pound value to the nearest digit.

• Step 2: Then, measure your length from the wall in feet and inches or just in inches. Enter this value in the BMI calculator. Select your gender and click on 'Calculate BMI'.

This tool will display your results based on the value you entered. If the results indicate that your BMI is above or below the normal range, it is advisable to have a medical check-up. In this way, you can avoid the troubles related to your weight.

 It's important to understand your BMI statistics to keep your health under control.

• less than 18.5 = Underweight

• 18.5 to 24.9 = Healthy Weight

• 25 to 29.9 = Overweight

• 30 or more = Obesity

BMI Formula to Calculate your Body Mass Index 

BMI is calculated by dividing your weight in kilograms by the square of your height in metres. The BMI formula is very simple! Let’s understand the same with the help of an example.

BMI = Weight (in kilograms) / Height (in meter2)

For instance, if you weigh 75 kg and your height is 1.8 m, you would calculate your BMI as follows:

 75/(1.8 x 1.8) = 23.15

BMI Charts

Take a look at the BMI chart to understand the BMI stats and range. It is easy to identify the category you fall under with this chart, so you can take precautionary measures to deal with it and ensure that you control your health issues.

Ideal BMI for Men

People who are overweight or underweight have to face a lot of health problems. Apart from this, other factors like lack of energy, fatigue and lethargy can cause further deterioration of health. All these aspects make it necessary for all of us to check our health and ensure that we take the right steps towards having a healthy body. One of the major measures that need to be taken is to know what your BMI is. 

Generally, whether male or female, an ideal BMI range between 18.5 and 24.9 is considered normal. Here, if your BMI is below 18.5, you are considered underweight, while anything between 24.9 and 30 is considered overweight. However, whether you are male or female, if your BMI is above 30, it is a cause for concern as it is considered obese. There is no ideal BMI, which means there is no different BMI limit for gender categories or for particular age ranges.

So, how much should men generally weigh for their age?

Let's look at the ideal BMI chart for men

Ideal BMI for Women

Wondering if there any differences in the BMI of men and women? This is not necessary. There is no gender-specific or ideal BMI range designed for any age group or category. As BMI is an indication of weight in relation to height, it has nothing to do with gender. A BMI or body mass index in the range of 18.5 to 24.9 is considered normal, a BMI or body mass index of 25 to 29 is considered overweight, a BMI or body mass index above 29 or 30 is considered obese. Having said that, obesity can be a bigger health risk for women than for men with the same BMI.

There is a big difference in body type for both men and women, but the BMI value will be the same. According to some studies, the average BMI value for men is slightly higher than for women. Some studies have proven that a higher BMI cut-off of 32, 33 is normal for women. Therefore, it is advisable to follow a consensus on the normal BMI range that is common to both.

So, how much should women normally weigh for their age?

Let's look at the ideal BMI chart for women

Ideal BMI for Children

Calculating BMI for babies is not only important but also serves as an important parameter to understand whether your baby is growing normally or not. The BMI helps you understand this and helps you take the necessary precautions when any health concerns are identified. Calculating BMI in children is a slightly different process. This is because as the child grows, the body fat of the child also changes. So, what is the formula for calculating BMI in children? To calculate the BMI for children, divide the child's weight (kg) by the length (square metres), and multiply the result by 703.

Unlike adults, a child's age and gender play an important role in children's BMI. When calculating BMI for children, each child's BMI is tallied with the percentile for children of the same age and gender. In this, children with a BMI falling in the range of 85th and 95th percentile are considered overweight. To understand this, here is an example. A child whose BMI falls in the 87th percentile weighs more than 87% of his age group.

Risks Associated With Being Overweight

On the basis of BMI, if you fall in the category of overweight or obese, you may have many health problems if you do not manage your weight on time. Some of these health risks and overweight problems are as follows:

• High Blood Pressure

• High Cholesterol Level

• Type 2 diabetes

• Heart problems

• Stroke

• Breathing related issues

• Psychological problems like clinical depression, anxiety etc.

• Physical limitations and body ache for doing any activity

Risks Associated With Being Underweight

Just like being overweight or obese is a problem, being underweight is also a problem. Here are some of the health problems associated with it:

• Malnutrition

• Deficiency of vitamins and anaemia

• Joint problems

• Low immunity

• Growth of body issues

• fertility issues in women

We have listed some health problems when it comes to being overweight or underweight. This list keeps getting longer. So, consult your doctor and look for some healthy ways to manage your weight.

How Does BMI Affect Your Health Insurance Premium?

A healthy body is important not only for your well being but also for other important factors related to your life. When it comes to financial products like health insurance, BMI is one of the major factors that affect your liability towards the product. This means that the healthier you are, the less premium you will pay.

As we all know, not all health insurance companies pay the same premium and, one of the major factors on which your premium depends is how healthy you are. This is because someone with health problems is considered by insurers as a high-risk candidate. Health-related problems like obesity attract many other health-related complications, where the chances of a person filing a claim increase. Hence, health insurance companies charge higher premiums for such people.

So, how does BMI affect your health insurance premium? The answer is that your BMI helps determine where you are on the health threshold, which helps you understand how healthy you are. Hence, by adopting a healthy lifestyle, you can reduce your health insurance premium.

Health Insurance Plans Available at Bajaj Markets

Health Insurance Plans Available at Bajaj Markets