BMI Weight Loss Calculator

Body Mass Index (BMI) is an established measure utilized by physicians and health experts to determine weight status (i.e. underweight, overweight or within a healthy weight range). Use this calculator to find out what your BMI can tell you about your health and well-being.

Here are some key points about BMI.
*Body mass index (BMI) is a measure of relative size based on the mass and height of an individual.
*The Quetelet Index was devised by Adolphe Quetelet, a Belgian mathematician, astronomer and statistician, in 1832. It was later termed "body mass index" in 1972 by Ancel Keys.
*BMI is a simple, inexpensive and noninvasive surrogate measure of body fat.
*Factors such as age, sex, ethnicity and muscle mass are not accounted for in BMI.
*For adults 20 years and older, BMI is interpreted by using standard weight status categories that are the same for all ages, and for both men and women.
*For children and adolescents between 2-20 years old, BMI is interpreted relative to a child's age and sex.
*BMI is a reasonable indicator of body fat for both adults and children.
*Because BMI does not measure body fat directly, it should not be used as a diagnostic tool.
*BMI should be used as a measure to track weight status in populations and as a screening tool to identify potential weight problems in individuals.
*Other measures of body fat, such as skinfold thicknesses, bioelectrical impedance, underwater weighing and dual energy X-ray absorption, maybe more accurate than BMI.


For any height there is a range of healthy weights. BMI is classified in the following way:

© A BMI of less than 18.5 kg/m2 indicates you are underweight. You may need to gain weight.

© If your BMI is 19 to 24.9 kg/m2, you're are a healthy weight, and should aim to stay that way.

© A BMI of 25 to 29 kg/m2 is defined as overweight. It's a good idea to lose some weight for your health's sake, or at least aim to prevent further weight gain.

© A BMI of over 30 kg/m2 is defined as fat and means your health is at risk. Losing weight will improve your health.

© A BMI of over 35 kg/m2 is defined as severely obese and means your health is at risk. Losing weight will improve your health.

Note: BMI is not always a good reflection of body fatness. A very muscular person might have a high BMI when in fact their body fat is at a healthy level, as muscle weighs more than fat