How to Calculate BMI

It doesn’t matter if you are on a weight loss journey, or just trying to be more mindful of your health, everyone should know how to calculate BMI! BMI or Body Mass Index is a measure of body fat in direct relation to your body weight. For many, BMI is the best way to assess the amount of body fat in an individual, but it’s not always the most accurate tool. Use my guide below to learn how to calculate BMI:

BMI FORMULAS:

METRIC BMI: weight (kg) / [height (m)]²

Metric Example: 68  / (1.65) ² = 24.98\

68: weight in kilograms. 1.65: your height in meters.

ENGLISH BMI: weight (lb) / [height (in)]² x 703

English Example: [150 / (65) ²] x 703 = 24.96

150: weight in pounds. 65: height in inches.

Although the BMI formula does provide somewhat accurate insight when it comes to the correlation between your height and weight, there are some things to consider:

-Genetically speaking, women do tend have more fat than men. The formula is the same for both.

-Older individuals typically have more fat than younger adults. Again, the formula is the same regardless of age.

-The formula is not always the most accurate for highly trained athletes. In fact, according to this, athletes tend to have a high BMI. When in reality, the body weight is due to high muscle mass. Muscle weighs more than fat, but you’d have no way of distinguishing that in the formula.

If you are looking for a more accurate way to measure your Body Fat Index, there are several methods you could try! Keep in mind that these tests can run at an expense, and if you’re like me, you actually may not want to know your exact BMI…

-Bioelectrical Impedance: This revolutionary measurement calculates your exact weight, your percentage of body fat, your muscle mass, and even your water and bone mass. With a screening like this, you’ll know exactly where you “carry your weight.”

-Skinfold Measuring:  Now, this method sounds downright awful, and I wouldn’t wish it on my worst enemy…That being said, skinfold measurements have always been the classic way to determine BMI. But who really wants to willingly put themselves through that? I’ll stick with the classic BMI measurement!