Free BMI Calculator

The Body Mass Index (BMI) is a widely used measurement that helps assess whether a person has a healthy body weight for their height. It's calculated by dividing a person's weight in kilograms by the square of their height in meters (kg/m²). This simple calculation provides a useful indicator of potential health risks associated with being underweight, overweight, or obese.

Why BMI Matters for Your Health

BMI serves as a screening tool for weight categories that may lead to health problems. While it doesn't directly measure body fat, research has shown that BMI correlates with direct measures of body fat, such as underwater weighing and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). Higher BMI values are associated with increased risks of:

• Heart disease and stroke
• Type 2 diabetes
• Certain cancers
• High blood pressure
• Sleep apnea
• Liver disease

Limitations of BMI

While BMI is a useful screening tool, it has limitations. It doesn't distinguish between muscle and fat, so athletes with high muscle mass may have a high BMI despite being very healthy. Additionally, BMI doesn't account for fat distribution, which is an important factor in determining health risks. Waist circumference and other measurements are often used alongside BMI for a more complete health assessment.

Using Our Free BMI Calculator

Our online BMI calculator provides instant results in both metric and imperial units. Simply enter your height and weight, and our tool will calculate your BMI and categorize it according to standard health guidelines. The calculator also provides visual feedback through color-coded results and a BMI scale indicator to help you understand where you fall in the healthy weight range.