Body Mass Index (BMI) is a tool used to help classify if an individual underweight, normal weight, overweight or obese. While BMI is not a direct measure of body compositions (i.e. body fat), it can be a useful tool to help identify possible weight problems. You can visit the following website and follow the directions below to calculate your own BMI:
http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpa/bmi/
- Click on “Adult BMI Calculator”
- Enter your height and weight into the designated boxes
- Click on Calculate
This website will let you know what your BMI is and what weight category you fall into (normal weight, overweight, etc.). One thing to keep in mind when calculating BMI, is that it can overestimate body fatness in fit individuals. For example, if someone is very muscular, it could classify them as “overweight” even though they may have very little body fat. The website listed above is a good resource for more information about BMI.