Body mass index (BMI) is a measure of body fat based on height and weight that applies to both adult men and women.

• Enter your weight and height.
• Click on “Compute BMI” and your BMI will appear in the heart of the figure.

BMI Categories:

• Underweight = <18.5
• Normal weight = 18.5-24.9
• Overweight = 25-29.9
• Obesity = BMI of 30 or greater

BMI Calculator- The Misunderstood tool in your weight loss program

So you’ve decided to get healthy and you’ve taken the first step. You’ve started working out and your cutting down on foods you don’t need. At this point many people tend to put a lot of emphasis on a particular tool called the Body Mass Index. The BMI is a measurement of body fat based on height and weight that applies to both men and women between the age of 18 and 65 years. Unfortunately The BMI calculator does not take into account if a person is carrying more muscle than a “non exerciser” and therefore the results become fairly inaccurate. The BMI tool is at best a fair evaluation tool to help “non exercisers” determine their fitness level and not an accurate guage for exercisers. It seems to be only fairly accurate only for people who do not spend any time working out at all.

You can find a free and simple BMI calculator online or just click here to use ours.

How does a BMI Calculator help with your Weight Loss and Body Buidling?

BMI Calculators have been used by athletes and bodybuilders in the past to calculate how much fat they have on their body. However since muscle mass weighs more than fat a typical healthy adult who has been working out will end up in the obese or overweight categories. Because of this many bodybuilders have stopped using this as an effective tool to chart their muscular improvement. Typically for sedentary Adult a body mass Index of:

*over 30 is considered obese
*between 25 and 29.9 is considered overweight
*between 18.5 and 24.9 is considered a ideal healthy BMI
*under 18.5 is considered underweight.

BMI Calculators Formula and Children

A more advanced use of the BMI Calculator is in calculating the risks associated with obesity in kids. Being overweight means that the child has a BMI that is above the 95th percentile for their age. However since BMI doesn’t directly measure body fat, it is possible to be over weight but not obese. Some kids and even men’s and women’s BMI who are very athletic and have a large muscle mass may be considered overweight even if they aren’t.

Alternatives to the BMI Calculator

For anyone who continuously lifts weights, eats healthier, and performs cardiovascular exercise, a much better tool is the “one site skin fold caliper” kits and a tape measure. The One site skin fold caliper test kit is very simple 1-2 minutes and convenient. It is a must for anyone who is exercising with a goal of gaining muscle and losing fat in order to see what works and what does not work at getting one closer to their fitness goals. I also have some videos on YouTube you can watch here.

This test will allow you to get more accurate measurements and help you chart your goals of gaining muscle and losing fat.