How to Calculate Body Mass Index with 2 Different Methods

Everyone wants to have an ideal body weight. However, there are many people who do not know whether they are ideal or not. People usually weight themselves to know their weight status. However, there is a better way that is using Body Mass Index or better known as BMI. If you know your body mass index, you will know whether you are ideal or not. Therefore, in this article we will discuss how to calculate body mass index. So, you have to pay attention to the discussion below.

Why Should You Calculate BMI?

Before we talk about how to calculate Body Mass Index, let’s talk the reasons why you should calculate it. Body mass index shows the index of your body so that you can classify yourself whether you have normal weight or not. After you calculate it, you will know the result. If you are obese, you have to lower your weight. If you are too thin, you should increase your weight. So, if you have a normal weight, you should keep your weight. That is why you have to know your body mass index.

The Categories of Body Mass Index

Body mass index relates to height and weight (read: BMI Calculator for Women Over 50). It is classified into 4 different categories. The first category is underweight. People belong to underweight category if they have less than 18.5 BMI. The second category is normal weight. People belong to normal weight category if their BMI is in the range from 18.5 to 24.9. The third category is overweight where people’s BMI is in the range from 25 to 29.9. The last one is obese where people’s BMI is 30 or higher. If you know how to calculate Body Mass Index (BMI), you will know what you belong to.

Who Can Calculate BMI?

There are many people who still do not understand about BMI. As it has been mentioned before, BMI is your body mass that you should calculate to measure your weight category. So, who can calculate it? It can also be calculated by your own. Everyone can calculate his or her own BMI. You do not need to go to doctor or anyone else to do it as long as you know how to calculate body mass index. So, you have to know the formula and it is easy to practice.

Methods of Calculating BMI

There are 2 different methods how to count BMI. So, you have to understand both of them. They are Metric Method and Imperial Method. Metric method uses a formula that accepts to calculate the height measurements in meter and weight in kilogram. One the other hand, the imperial method uses a formula that accepts to calculate the height measurement in inch and weight in pound. This method is most popular in the United States. So, you have to understand both of them and decide which you will choose. Use the easiest one for you even though both methods are accurate.

How to Calculate Body Mass Index Using Metric Method

There are many people who say that metric method is easier than the imperial method. If you want to calculate your BMI using this formula, you just need to follow 2 steps only. Firstly, you have to multiply your own height by itself. For example, if your height is 1.8 meters, it will be 3.24 meters. After that, you should divide your weight by your height. For example, if your weight is 150 kilograms, you should calculate 150:3.24 and it equals to 46.3. This is your BMI. It is simple, is not it?

How to Calculate Body Mass Index Using Imperial Method

If you consider calculating your BMI using the second method, the formula consists of three steps. Firstly, multiply your own weight in pound by 703. For example, your weight is 150 pounds so that 150 x 703 equals to 105,450. After that, multiply the height in inch by itself. If your height is 64 inches, 64 x 64 will be 4,096. Last, divide the result from the first step by the second step. In this case, 105,450: 4,096 equals to 25.74. That is your BMI.

After you know how to calculate body mass index, it is your turn to practice it. From the examples above, the first example can be concluded that you are obese whereas the second example shows that you are overweight. So, you have to lower your weight by doing exercises and eating healthy dietary foods.