How to Calculate Your Body Mass Index in Three Easy Steps
More than six in 10 Americans weigh more than they should, putting them at risk of cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure and some types of cancer. The BMI, or the body mass index, compares your weight and height to determine if you are overweight, underweight or at a healthy weight. You can calculate your BMI in three steps by comparing your weight in pounds and your height in inches.
Instructions
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1
Stand on the scale and weigh yourself. Measure your height (in inches) using the measuring tape.
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2
Divide your weight in pounds by your height in inches squared. For instance, say you weigh 150 lb. and you are 64 inches tall. Your equation would be 150/(64)^2, or 150/4,096. So the result would be 0.037.
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3
Multiply your answer in Step 2 by 703 to get your BMI. In the example, 0.037 x 703 = 26.01.
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4
Determine what the number means. According to the BMI range, if your number is less than 18.5, you are underweight. If your BMI is between 18.5 and 24.9, you are considered at normal weight. If your BMI falls between 25 and 29.9, you are overweight. A BMI of 30 or greater means you are obese. Concluding the example, a BMI of 26.01 would indicate you are slightly overweight.
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References
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