
It may overestimate body fat in athletes and others who have a muscular build. The higher the BMI, the higher the risk for heart disease, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, gallstones, osteoarthritis, sleep apnea, and certain cancers (e.g., colon, breast, endometrial, and gallbladder).Īlthough BMI can be used for most men and women, it does have some limits: People who are obese (BMI of 30 or above) almost always have a large amount of body fat in relation to their height. People who are overweight (BMI of 25–29.9) have too much body weight for their height. This ratio of weight to height is known as the body mass index (BMI). For adults, a healthy weight is defined as the appropriate body weight in relation to height. Cancer, heart disease, diabetes and many other diseases are more common in people who are overweight.BMI is an estimate of body fat and a good measure of your patients' risk for diseases that can occur with overweight and obesity. Being overweight is associated with higher risk factors for your health. Risks of Being OverweightīMI calculators can help you figure out if you are overweight. On the other hand, endurance athletes can sometimes skew into the underweight category despite being very healthy.Īgain, BMI calculators are an excellent screening tool, but medical decisions should be made with a medical professional. This could especially be the case for strength-focused athletes. This means some athletes may skew into overweight BMI categories since muscle weighs more than fat. Athletes tend to have more muscle mass than non-athletes. Women bmi calculator how to#
Read about how to exercise for every age. BMI calculations for children and teens should be age and sex-specific since their bodies change so rapidly as they grow.
Do BMI Calculators Work for Children and Teens?īMI calculators can be used to calculate children’s and teens’ BMI, but they are different from adult BMI calculators. For example, the CDC notes that women tend to have more body fat than men and a few other differences. Moreover, people with the same BMI could have different amounts of body fat. BMI calculators estimate body fat based on height and weight however, BMI is not a direct measure of body fat.
BMI calculators are great screening tools however, make health and medical decisions in consultation with a healthcare professional. The BMI calculation is a simple, fast and effective way to estimate body fat. BMI categories also highly correlate with disease outcomes measured by more direct measures of body fat. Are BMI Calculators Useful?īMI is highly correlated with other direct measures of calculating body fat. What is the Formula for Calculating BMI?īMI calculators use this formula to calculate BMI: weight (kg) / 2. Skip straight to the calculator or continue reading to learn more about the science and theory behind BMI calculators. A BMI calculator can help you figure out if your health might be at risk due to your body fat. They are helpful for calculating your own BMI.
BMI calculators do this by calculating the ratio of weight to height. A BMI calculator (Body Mass Index) estimates body fat.