BODY MASS INDEX
BMI (Body Mass Index) is the ratio of a person’s weight divided by the square of their height. This is an easy and cheap screening method for the following weight categories—underweight, healthy weight, overweight, and obesity.
BMI does not measure body fat directly, but BMI is moderately correlated with more direct measures of body fat 1,2,3. Furthermore, BMI appears to be as strongly correlated with various metabolic and disease outcomes as are these more direct measures of body fatness.
This was made between the year 1830 to 1850 by a Belgian astronomer as he was developing social physics and the term was later coined in a paper in the year 1972. It was designed as a way of approximating a person's "thickness" and "thinness".
| BMI | Weight Health |
| Below 18.5 | Underweight |
| 18.5 - 24.9 | Healthy weight |
| 25.0 - 29.9 | Overweight |
| Above 30.0 | Obese |
Below is a BMI chart that shows a general view of common weight against height
2021, Vertex 42, BMI Chart, https://www.vertex42.com/ExcelTemplates/bmi-chart.html
BODY FAT PERCENTAGE
However, BMI does not measure body fat directly, it is moderately correlated with more direct measures of body fat, which means that it only gives a rough scale of how. Furthermore, BMI appears to be as strongly correlated with various metabolic and disease outcomes as are these more direct measures of body fatness.
In order to calculate their body fat percentage, they will need their BMI, age and gender. This is a more accurate way of calculating your body fat level.
Click the pop up below to access Body Fat Percentage Calculator:
Body Fat Percentage Calculator
Below is a Body Fat Percentage Chart
These calculators should not be used on pregnant or lactating mothers. The user should contact a doctor or a qualified professional before taking any acute actions should be taken after using this calculator.
References
2021, About Adult BMI, https://www.cdc.gov/healthyweight/assessing/bmi/adult_bmi/
Wikipedia, Body Mass Index, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Body_mass_index#History
Perry, 2020, Ideal Body Fat Percentage Chart, https://www.builtlean.com/ideal-body-fat-percentage-chart/