How is Body Mass Index (BMI) calculated?

To calculate your Body mass Index (BMI) divide your weight (in pounds) by your height (in inches) x your height (in inches) and then multiply by 703.

For example, if you are 5'5" (65 inches) and weigh 130lbs your BMI woud be:

     (130 divided by 65 x 65) x 703 = 21.6

Therefore, a person who is 5'5" tall and weighs 130lbs would have a BMI of 21.6.

You can calculate your own body mass index using the following formula: your weight in kilograms divided by your height in meters, squared.

This formula is less daunting than it appears. To figure your BMI, follow these steps:

1. Weigh yourself without your clothes. Divide your weight in pounds by 2.2 to get your weight in kilograms. If you weigh 190 pounds:

 190 ÷ 2.2 = 86 kilograms.

2. Measure yourself without your shoes. Then divide your height in inches by 39.4 to determine your height in meters. For example, if you are 5 feet 10 inches tall, you are 70 inches tall and your height in meters is

 70 ÷ 39.4 = 1.78 meters.

To find the square of your height in meters, multiply this figure by itself:

 1.78 x 1.78 = 3.2.

3. Finally, divide the answer to No. 1 by the answer to No. 2: 

 86 ÷ 3.2 = 26.8.

Your BMI is thus 26.8, or rather too close for comfort to the danger zone.

BMI is calculated with a formula that uses your height and weight. You can either use meters and kilograms, or inches and pounds. Let’s walk through the one that uses inches and pounds.

For inches and pounds the formula is: [weight in lbs. ÷ (height in inches)2] x 703

Divide your weight in pounds by your height in inches squared, and then multiply that answer by 703. For example if someone is 5’5” (65”) and 150 lbs. the calculation would look like the following:

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

Body Mass Index can be calculated in the inches and pounds of the English measuring system (common in the United States) or the meters and kilograms of the metric system (common almost everywhere else).

In both cases, determining the result for adults first requires dividing the weight by the square of the height. For metric measurements, nothing else is required. For pounds and inches, the result must be multiplied by 703 to yield the final answer.

Here are examples.

A person who weighs 180 pounds and is 5 feet 8 inches tall has a BMI of 27.4. That's 180 divided by 68 times 68, multiplied by 703.

A person who weighs 99.79 kilograms and is 1.905 meters (190.50 centimeters) tall has a BMI of 27.5. That's 99.79 divided by 190.5 times 190.5.

This is the formula we used on the show:
The Body Mass Index (BMI) is a measurement tool that compares your height to your weight and gives you an indication of whether you are overweight, underweight or at a healthy weight for your height.

BMI = ( Weight in pounds/ Height in inches x Height in inches.) x 703

OR

BMI= (Weight in kilograms/ Height in meters x Height in meters)

 

Ideal Weight Calculator (Body Mass Index) is a reliable indicator of your body’s fitness level, and most importantly, your health risk. It works by calculating your weight and height and correlates it to your body fat level. To determine your BMI, you can calculate it by:  

BMI = Weight (lbs) / (Height (in) x Height (in)) x 703

To use a calculator to determine your BMI, go to: 

http://www.weight-loss-plans-4-you.com/ideal-weight-calculator.html

 

Your weight and height are measured. Then, your weight is converted to kilograms, and your height is converted to meters and then squared. Your BMI is calculated by dividing your body weight (in kilograms) by your height (in meters squared). The resulting number represents your BMI.

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