BMI stands for body mass index, a quick calculation based on your height and weight used to screen for obesity. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a BMI between 18.5 and 24.9 represents a normal weight for your height. However, the formula does not take into consideration your body makeup. For example, athletes who have a significant amount of muscle often have a BMI that classifies them as overweight because muscle is denser than fat.
- Calculator
- Scale
- Measuring tape
Calculate your height in inches by multiplying the number of feet tall you are by 12. For example, if you measure 5 feet, 10 inches tall, you would multiply 5 by 12 to get 60 and add 10 to get 70 inches.
Square your height in inches. In this example, you would square 70 to get 4,900.
Divide your weight in pounds by 4,900. For example, if you weigh 170 pounds, you would divide 170 by 4,900 to get 0.034693878.
Multiply the result from Step 3 by 703 to find your BMI. Finishing the example, you would multiply 0.034693878 by 703 to find your BMI to be at 24.4.
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About the Author
Mark Kennan is a writer based in the Kansas City area, specializing in personal finance and business topics. He has been writing since 2009 and has been published by "Quicken," "TurboTax," and "The Motley Fool."
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