BMI calculator
While BMI (Body Mass Index) can serve as a simple initial screening tool for weight categories, it’s important to understand its limitations. BMI is calculated by dividing a person’s weight in kilograms by their height in meters squared, providing a rough estimate of body fat. Healthcare providers often use it as one of several measurements to assess potential health risks, as both very high and very low BMI values have been associated with various health conditions.
Essential reading: Top fitness trackers and health gadgets
However, BMI doesn’t distinguish between weight from muscle, bone density, and fat, nor does it account for factors like age, gender, ethnicity, or body composition. This means that athletes with high muscle mass might be classified as overweight, while someone with low muscle mass but high body fat might appear to have a healthy BMI. For a more accurate assessment of health, BMI should be considered alongside other measurements like waist circumference, body composition analysis, blood pressure, and overall lifestyle factors.
We also recommend checking our roundup of the best smart scales you can buy. Use one of these to track your weight, body composition and more.
The calculator below includes the following features:
- Option to choose between metric and imperial systems.
- Inputs for weight, height, age.
- Calculates BMI.
- Provides a visual representation of BMI using colour bars.
- Displays BMI category (Underweight, Normal weight, Overweight, Obese).
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