Body Mass Index or BMI is a globally recognised screening tool used by clinicians to estimate the amount of body fat a person is carrying based on their weight and height. Specifically, it is calculated by dividing weight in kilograms by the square of height in meters (kg/m²).

 

While it is not a direct measure of body fat percentage, BMI can help identify individuals who may be at a higher risk for chronic conditions such as Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease. 

 

It is important to remember though that it is only one piece of the puzzle, and is not an absolute measure of a person's health and not the only factor that must be considered.  BMI cannot distinguish between lean muscle mass and body fat. For example, athletes may have a high BMI due to muscle density, not excess adiposity. It also does not on its own give us any idea about the distribution of fat in a person's body, as fat stored around the internal organs (visceral fat) poses a higher metabolic risk than fat stored elsewhere.  Additionally evidence has shown that not every ethnicity faces the same risks at the same BMI and some groups of people face higher health risks at lower BMI thresholds.

 

It can however be a useful starting point for assessing your weight and the implications of it on your health. 

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Use the calculators below to work out your BMI using metric or imperial measurements.