Your BMI is a measurement that is a ratio of your weight and height. It’s a good way to gauge whether your weight is in healthy proportion to your height. In fact, knowing your BMI can help you – and your GP – determine any health risks you may face if it’s outside of the healthy range. Being overweight can lead to a range of chronic conditions including:
Being underweight can result in other health issues like:
How to calculate your BMI Simply divide your weight in kilograms by your height in metres squared. For example, if you weigh 70kg and you are 185cm tall your BMI calculation will look like this: or click here to learn more and calculate your BMI. The BMI scale 18.5 to 24.9 = healthy 25 to 29.9 = overweight30 and above = obese 18.4 and under = underweight It’s a good measure of your health, but not perfect While it may be a great guide to establishing the amount of body fat you carry, your BMI won’t take into consideration your age, sex, ethnicity, or even muscle mass. It’s also not appropriate in determining a healthy weight in the elderly, children, pregnant women or even athletes. Book in for a free health assessment To find out your Body Mass Index, visit our local medical centre. Click here to find a medical centre near you. Read our privacy policy. The body mass index (BMI) is a measure that uses your height and weight to work out if your weight is healthy. The BMI calculation divides an adult's weight in kilograms by their height in metres squared. For example, A BMI of 25 means 25kg/m2. For most adults, an ideal BMI is in the 18.5 to 24.9 range. For children and young people aged 2 to 18, the BMI calculation takes into account age and gender as well as height and weight. If your BMI is: If you want to calculate your BMI, try our healthy weight calculator. BMI takes into account natural variations in body shape, giving a healthy weight range for a particular height. As well as measuring your BMI, healthcare professionals may take other factors into account when assessing if you're a healthy weight. Muscle is much denser than fat, so very muscular people, such as heavyweight boxers, weight trainers and athletes, may be a healthy weight even though their BMI is classed as obese. Your ethnic group can also affect your risk of some health conditions. For example, adults of South Asian origin may have a higher risk of some health problems, such as diabetes, with a BMI of 23, which is usually considered healthy. You should not use BMI as a measure if you're pregnant. Get advice from your midwife or GP if you're concerned about your weight.
Page last reviewed: 15 July 2019
BMI Calculator
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Body mass index (BMI) is a guide to help people estimate their total body fat as a proportion of their total body weight. BMI can indicate risk for developing certain medical conditions including diabetes, high blood pressure, and other metabolic conditions. BMI is less accurate for assessing healthy weight in some groups of people – find out if BMI applies to you. Waist circumference is a good indicator of 'hidden fat' around organs in our bellies. It may be a better guide than BMI alone in estimating risk for the same types of medical conditions.
BMI Calculator Get a better understanding of being a healthy weight with our articles on weight management. Learn More Understanding your results and recommended next steps. Learn More Your weight is less than it ideally should be. See your doctor or health professional and discuss whether you may need to aim at gaining weight. They can help you think of small, practical changes you feel comfortable with to achieve a healthy weight. You may weigh less than you ideally should. Unless you’re naturally very slim, you may need to consider ways of gaining weight to bring your BMI to between 20 and 25. If you do feel you need to put on some weight, it is still important to eat a healthy diet. Exercise can help too. Your BMI is currently within what is considered a healthy weight range. Being a healthy weight has important benefits as it can help reduce your risk of heart disease, diabetes and a range of other conditions. Your weight appears to be a bit above the ideal range. You might like to talk to your doctor about whether you need to set yourself a new target for a healthy weight. If you are at all concerned or have any health problems, check with your doctor before you start any new exercise programs or eating plans. You currently weigh more than is ideal. This puts your health at risk and is of increasing concern, particularly as you get older. Talk to your doctor about your BMI and discuss an appropriate and healthy weight for you. *According to the National Health and Medical Research Council, a healthy BMI is between 20-25 for most adults.Weight: You have entered a number outside the available range 30kg - 250kg / 66.15lb - 551.25lb. Height: You have entered a number outside the available range 91cm - 250cm / 3ft 0in- 8ft 2in. InstructionsBMI is calculated by dividing your weight in kilograms by your height in metres squared. Enter your measurements and click ‘calculate’ for your body mass index. If your BMI is above or below the normal range but you consider yourself to be of normal and healthy weight for your height, chat with your doctor about any potential health concerns. This calculator has been reviewed by Bupa health professionals and is based on reputable sources of medical research. It is not a diagnostic tool and should not be relied on as a substitute for professional medical or other professional health advice. Use this simple tool to calculate your body mass index (BMI). BMI is a widely used measure to find out whether you’re a healthy weight for your height.Being a healthy weight means not being under or overweight. A BMI of 20-25 is considered healthy for most adults. However, BMI can be an inaccurate measure of healthy weight for pregnant women, children, older people, athletes or very muscular people. It may also need to be adjusted for some ethnic groups, including people of Asian, Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent. Being underweight may be associated with lack of some vitamins and minerals that can affect important body functions, such as your immune response to infection and fertility or it can lead to a multitude of health issues from heart disease to bone problems. Being overweight or obese can lead to a multitude of health issues from heart disease, bone and joint problems as well as increase your risk of some cancers, sleep apnoea and type 2 diabetes. Putting on weight and trying to lose weight can be hard. Don’t be disheartened or de-motivated if progress is slow. It’s important to decide on small, practical changes that you feel comfortable with and that you’ll be able to stick to. It's helpful to get support from family or friends when you’re trying to change your weight. Health Tools NewsletterSubscribe to receive our fortnightly newsletter, covering topics like health trends, conditions & treatments (no matter how taboo), yummy recipes, selfcare tips, and more. Subscribe Balanced diet How to cut down on sugar We hear about the health risk of too much sugar but is cutting it out completely the answer? Jenny Boss Health Writer Diet myths Multivitamin myths Can a supplement compensate for a poor diet or prevent you from getting sick? Rosalyn D'Angelo Bupa Dietitian Healthy alternatives Tips for a hoppy, healthy Easter! If you’re mindful of keeping your seasonal treats a bit more on the healthy side, check out some of our balancing suggestions and Easter themed treat ideas. Tracy McBeth Journalist
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