BMI Calculator

What is Body Mass Index

Body Mass Index (BMI) is a measure of body fat derived on the basis of an adult man or woman’s height and weight. BMI is a major determinant of one’s obesity or leanness. Moreover, BMI is a reliable and quick way of gauging the health of a person. It is a cost-effective and simple method of screening the categories of weight that may lead to medical problems in the near-future.

What is a BMI Calculator

BMI calculator is an online or offline tool that is widely used as a reliable indicator of one’s healthy body weight for their height. The body mass index or BMI indicates how much body mass you have with respect to your height and weight. It not only refers to the fat inside your body, but also the one within your bones and muscles. A BMI calculator lets you determine how healthy you are and whether you are within the normal weight range, if you are underweight or overweight as per your height.

BMI calculator plays a key role in understanding your health. Whether your BMI is high or low, it may be a matter of concern as it may raise a number of health problems as per age further. Hence, BMI remains one of key health parameters, when your health condition is evaluated.

Benefits of a BMI Calculator

As known, BMI gives an estimate of whether or not your weight is proportionate to your height. A BMI calculator is an online tool that helps you get this ratio. The reasons you should use a BMI calculator are as follows –

• The tool gives an estimate of whether you are underweight, average body weight, overweight, or obese.
• It helps your doctor or nutritionist understand the fat percentage in your body. So, based on BMI, the doctor will be able to chart your diet and exercise routine accordingly.
• The tool calculates BMI quickly, and you have your results in a few seconds.

How to Calculate BMI

Calculating BMI is not a difficult process. It can either be done manually using your regular calculator or by using the effective tools available online on various websites and apps. While calculating your or anyone’s BMI using a calculator, all you need to do is –

1. Use a weighing scale to check your weight. Note down the nearest pound value.
2. Then, measure your height against the wall in feet (ft.) and inches. You can also measure your height in inches only.
3. Enter these values in the BMI calculator. Choose your gender and click on ‘Calculate BMI’.

The tool will display your results based on the values you gave it.In case the results highlight that your BMI is above the normal range or below it, it is advisable to undergo a medical check-up. This way, you may avoid further risks associated with your weight.

Ideally, a value falling between the range of 18.5 to 25 kg/m2 is considered as normal BMI, while less than 15 is classified as very severely underweight. If your BMI falls in-between 15 to 18, you are considered as underweight, while if the same fall in the range of 25 to 30, you’ll be categorized as overweight. Furthermore, in case your BMI is somewhere in between 30 to 40 and above 40, you fall in the obese and very severely obese categories respectively.

BMI Calculation Formula

BMI is calculated by dividing your weight by the square of your height. The formula is very simple!

BMI = weight (in kilograms)/ (height (in metres))²

Let’s understand this with the help of an example. If you weigh 75 kg and your height is 1.8 m, then you will work out your BMI in the following manner.

75 ÷ (1.8 x 1.8) = 23.15

Understanding your BMI figure is important to keep your health in check

• Less than 18.5 = Underweight

• 18.5 to 24.9 = Healthy weight

• 25 to 29.9 = Overweight

• 30 or higher = Obese

BMI Chart

Have a look at the BMI chart to understand the BMI figure and the range. With this chart, it is easy to identify the category you fall into, so you can take the precautionary measures for tackling the same and ensure that you control your health issues.

Ideal BMI for Men

People weighing greater or lesser than average have to face a lot of health issues. Moreover, other factors like lack of energy, fatigue and sluggishness could further cause greater deterioration of health. All these aspects make it essential for each of us to keep a check on our health and ensure that we are taking the right steps towards achieving a healthy body. One of the key measures that need to be taken include knowing what your BMI is. BMI or body mass index is an ideal way to find out how fit you are with regards to your weight and height, so you can categorize yourself as underweight or obese, accordingly. Varying from person to person, body mass index works as an ideal indicator of your health condition.

Typically, whether for a male or for a female, an ideal BMI range that is considered normal falls somewhere between 18.5 to 24.9. Here, if your BMI is below 18.5, you are considered overweight, while anything between 24.9 to 30 is considered overweight. However, whether you are a male or a female, it is a matter of concern if your BMI is anything above 30 as it is considered obese. There may not be an ideal BMI for means there is no BMI range set aside for a gender category or even particularly for age ranges.

So, typically how much should men weigh as per their age?

Have a look at the chart for ideal BMI for Men

Ideal BMI for Women

Are you Wondering whether there is any difference in the BMI between men and women? Not really! There is no gender-specific or ideal BMI range designed for any age group or range. Since BMI is an indication of one’s weight with respect to one’s height, the gender does not hold any significance. BMI or body mass index falling in the range of 18.5 to 24.9 is considered normal, 25 to 29 is considered overweight, above 29 is considered as obese, and one lesser than 18.5 is considered underweight. Having said that, obesity could be a higher health risk for women compared to that of men having similar BMI.

Although there is a major difference in the body type of the both, men and women, the BMI value would be the same. According to some studies, the average BMI value for men is slightly higher than women, some studies have proven that the higher BMI cut offs for women like 32, 33 are normal. Hence, it's advisable to follow the consensus on the normal BMI range that’s common for both.

So, how much should women weigh as per their age?

Have a look at the chart for ideal BMI for Women

Ideal BMI for Children

Calculating the BMI for children is not just significant, but also works as an important parameter to understand whether your child is growing normally. BMI helps understand this and further take the necessary precautions, in case any health concerns are identified.

Calculating BMI in children is a slightly different process. This is because a child’s body fat changes as the child grows. So, what’s the formula for calculating BMI in children? To calculate the BMI for children, divide the child’s weight in kilograms by the height in metres squared, and further multiply the result by 703.

Unlike adults, the age and gender of the child plays a significant role in the BMI for children. When calculating the BMI for children, the BMI of each child is matched with percentiles 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’s an example. A child whose BMI falls in the 87th percentile, she weighs more than 87% of her age group.

Risks Associated with Being Overweight

Based on the BMI, if you fall under the overweight or obese category, you can acquire several health issues if you do not manage your weight in time. Some of these health concerns include –

• High blood pressure
• High cholesterol levels
• Type 2 diabetes
• Heart diseases
• Stroke
• Breathing and other respiratory issues
• Mental illness such as clinical depression, anxiety, etc.
• Physical limitations to perform any activity and body pains

Risks Associated with Being Underweight

Much like being overweight or obese is an issue, so is being underweight. Here are a few health issues associated with the same –

• Malnutrition
• Deficiency in vitamins and anaemia
• Bone weakness
• Lowered immunity
• Growth and development issues
• Reproduction-related issues in women

We’ve enlisted just a few health issues when it comes to being overweight or underweight. The list goes on. So, consult your doctor and look for some healthy ways to manage your weight.

Steps to manage your weight

When it’s about staying healthy and fit, the first thing you need to do is keep a check on your weight. Managing your weight involves keeping your daily eating habits in check and ensuring that you eat right and in the right amount required.

Here’s what you can do to ensure that you are managing your weight right!

1. Avoid overeating

Avoiding the habit of overeating is one of the key steps that one must follow in the process of managing weight. It is good practice to ensure that you eat the right amount of food at regular and short intervals.

2. Count calories

Counting your calories may be a tedious practice but is a very important exercise. It forms the foundation of your weight-control process. By keeping a check on the calories, you consume, you can control the fat intake.

3. Portion eating

While you count your calories, you must also measure the portion of food you consume. Now, this does not mean you carry a measuring scale, but measuring portions makes sure that your body gets the right amount of fuel at right intervals.

4. Breakfast is must

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day! But, some people often skip their breakfast. It is seen that people who have a habit of having breakfast regularly were more successful in their weight management journey than those who often skipped this meal of the day.

5. Exercise is the key

As much as your body needs a healthy and timely diet, it also needs exercise. With a sedentary lifestyle and packed work schedule, some people find it difficult to carve out time for their daily exercise. Burning the extra inches off your body are only achievable with the right blend of exercise and diet.

How BMI affects your health insurance premium?

A healthy body is important, not just for your well-being but for other important factors concerned with your life. When it comes to financial products like health insurance, BMI is one of the major factors that majorly affect your liability towards the product. What this means is, the healthier you are, the lesser premiums you pay!

As we all know, not all health insurance companies offer the same premium. And, one of the key factors your premium depends on, is how healthy you are. This is because, someone with health issues is considered as a high-risk candidate by the insurers. Health issues like obesity attract several other health related criticalities, where an individual’s probability of filing a claim goes up. Therefore, health insurance companies tend to charge such people with a higher premium.

So, how does BMI affect your health insurance premium? This is because, your BMI helps determine where you lie on the range, thereby helping you understand how healthy you are. So, one of the ways you can bring down your health insurance premium is by adapting to a healthier lifestyle.

How BMI affects your term insurance policy?

Just how BMI affects your health insurance policy, it is a key determinant for your term insurance policy too. When buying a term insurance plan, your health history is a vital parameter for the insurer, where a medical test is conducted to get the details around this. Your weight is one of the things your life insurers look at, when calculating your term insurance premium. Parameters like weight and obesity are considered as high-risk factors that could result in serious health issues later in life. A person with an average BMI is presumed to live longer than a person with an above average BMI. This way, the latter’s probability of filing a claim increases.

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