BMI Calculator

BMI (Body Mass Index) is calculated by dividing weight in kilograms by height in meters squared. It's a simple screening tool recommended by WHO to assess whether a person's weight is in a healthy range. BMI is widely used in public health and clinical practice.

BMI cannot distinguish between fat and muscle. Athletes may have a high BMI due to muscle mass without being obese. BMI also doesn't account for age, sex, ethnicity, or body fat distribution. For elderly, pregnant women, children, and athletes, BMI may not be the best health indicator. Consider using waist circumference and body fat percentage as complementary measures.

WHO defines BMI 25+ as overweight and 30+ as obese. However, research shows Asian populations face higher health risks at lower BMI levels, so Asian standards are stricter: 23+ is overweight and 25+ is obese. Countries like China, Japan, and Korea use these adjusted standards.

BMI Prime is the ratio of your BMI to the upper limit of normal BMI (25). A BMI Prime of 1.0 means you're exactly at the overweight threshold. Below 1.0 means normal weight, above 1.0 means overweight. It's a more intuitive way to see how far you are from being overweight.

Key to maintaining a healthy BMI: balanced diet and regular exercise. Eat plenty of vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and protein while limiting high-sugar and high-fat foods. Aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate aerobic exercise per week (walking, swimming) plus 2+ strength training sessions. Adequate sleep (7-9 hours) and stress management are also important.