How to calculate your own BMI

Your at-home step-by-step guide

There are many ways to determine if you’re at a healthy weight and BMI (Body Mass Index) calculation is one of the easiest, simplest and most frequently used methods for the same. Determining your BMI is not difficult at all and you can do it easily even within the comfort of your home. In its simplest meanings, BMI compares a person’s weight to their height.

BMI formula

BMI uses a mathematical formula based on a person’s height and weight. BMI equals weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared (BMI = kg/m2). When using pounds and inches, the formula needs to be altered slightly. Multiply your weight in pounds by 703. You can also calculate your own BMI accordingly. .

For example, if you weigh 120 pounds and are 5 ft. 3 in. (63 in.) tall:

BMI = 120 x 703 = 84,360 = 21.3 

63 x 63 = 3,969

This is well within the healthy weight range.

Step by step guide to calculate your BMI

Things you need:

To calculate your own BMI while sitting within the comfort of your home, all you need is:

A simple calculator

Your already known readings for your own “height” and “weight”.

If you have these things ready then:

1-Enter your body weight in Kilograms

2- Press the ÷ symbol

3-Enter your body height in meters

4-Again press the ÷ symbol

5- Again enter your body height in meters

6- Press the “=” symbol

What does BMI tell you?

A BMI of 25 to 29.9 indicates a person is overweight.

A person with a BMI of 30 or higher is considered obese.

In short, for most adults, the BMI is a good way to get an idea of healthy weight ranges. But it is not always the final word in deciding if a person is overweight or obese. There are other things to think about when judging how much someone should weigh. A person with a high BMI should be evaluated by a health care provider, who might use other factors such as skin fold thickness (a measure of body fat), waist size, evaluations of diet and family health problems, and other tests to find out if a person's weight might pose a health risk. For example, you are at a higher risk if you carry most of your weight around the abdomen. If you are overweight, losing 5 to 10 per cent of your current body weight at a rate of 2 to 4 lbs (1 to 2 kg) per month is a healthy goal.

For someone who weighs 200 lbs (90 kg), 5 to 10 per cent is 10 to 20 lbs (4.5 to 9 kg).

It is important to remember that while BMI does not show the difference between excess fat and muscle, it is closely associated with measures of body fat. It also predicts the development of health problems related to excess weight. For these reasons, BMI is widely used by health care providers.