BMI Calculator

BMI Calculator

The Body Mass Index (BMI) measures the body's fat. Your BMI is determined by your height and weight. If you input the height as well as weight into a BMI calculator, you'll get an amount. It's one way to know if you're an ideal or unhealthy weight.

Calculate Your BMI

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Once you have an BMI number, use the chart below to figure out whether you'll need for weight gain, maintain your weight, or lose weight.

BMI Chart- Adults (Age 20+)

BMI	Weight Status
Below 18.5	Underweight
18.5 - 24.9	Normal or Healthy Weight
25.0 - 29.9	Overweight
30.0 and above	Obese

It is important to note that the BMI calculator for adolescents and children is different from the one used for adults. While it uses weight and height however, it also takes into account age and gender. This is due to the fact that male and female weigh and height vary throughout growth and development. For young children, BMI is expressed as percentiles compared to other children of the same age gender

BMI Chart- Children and Teens (Ages 2 to 19)

Weight Status	Percentile Range
Underweight	<5 1/5 percentile
Normal or Healthy Weight	5 th to <85 th percentile
Overweight	85 percentile to <95 th percentile
Obese	95 percentile or greater. percentile or higher

If you're concerned about your BMI or your child's BMI, talk with your physician.

Way to improve health

If your BMI indicates that you're obese or overweight, you can lower your BMI by losing weight. This can be accomplished with the help of standard weight loss strategies including:

• Consuming healthy food. Choose lean meats, fruits, vegetables, along with whole-grain grains. Cut down on alcohol, sugar beverages, processed food and juices. Consume fewer calories.
• Engaging in regular exercise.This includes cardio and weight-bearing exercises for building muscle and shed fat. This can help in controlling belly fat. The presence of belly fat increases the risk of certain health conditions. Consult your physician before starting an exercise regimen.
• Be aware of the portion control. Don't eat too much in between meals and snacks.

If your child's BMI has risen (above the 85 ^1st percentile), talk with your physician about ways you can aid child shed weight.

Things to think about

If your BMI is indicating that you're overweight or obese, it's possible that you could be at risk for certain medical conditions. This includes arthritis, heart disease and some cancers. BMI doesn't have the ability to identify the severity of disease. It is, however, an important indicator that should inspire you to engage in a consult with your doctor on ways to shed weight and decrease your BMI.

These tools should be guides only. Don't depend on them to make decisions about your health or your child's health. Always speak with your doctor regarding your health condition(s) and/or the circumstances you face prior to making any changes to your lifestyle.

For questions to your doctor

• When should I be concerned about my child's weight?
• When should I start taking a look at my BMI? What frequency should I be checking it?
• How much should I weigh?
• What is my child's ideal weight?
• Does BMI be a measure of muscle?
• How can I lower my BMI?
• What can I do to help my child reduce his or her BMI?
• How much time will it take reduce BMI?