Body Mass Index Calculator
This calculator requires the use of Javascript enabled and capable browsers. This calculator is designed to give the Body Mass Index rating, including the BMI notation as given by The Panel on Energy, Obesity, and Body Weight Standards published by American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, broken down into age groups of youth, less than 35 as well as 35 and over, from entered values. (A second calculator is given for metric data entry.)
Enter your height in feet and inches. If you are exactly 5 feet or 6 feet tall, put a 0 in the inches box. The results could be interpreted or calculated incorrectly if you leave the inches box empty. Enter your weight. Enter your age, in years; then click Calculate for the results. The BMI and associated notations are returned. An X in either the below 35 age group or 35 and above age group indicates that is YOUR notation. A Y in the below 35 group indicates that your BMI is figured on the national Youth scale (below 17). There is much latitude in the Youth scale, depending on frame size. If a young person is at or near adult height and stature but is only 16 or less, put in the age as 17. Your metric weight and height is also calculated and returned. You may click Clear Values and try again if you wish. An American Journal of Clinical Nutrition age group chart is also given for BMI interpretation. (This chart is identical to the calculations but allows viewing of the different divisional breaks.) The medical community generally agrees that your best weight is a lean body with fat being 10 to 18% of total body weight for men and 18 to 25% of total body weight for women. If you exceed these limits you have too much body fat, regardless of your actual weight. It is possible to be overweight but not having too much fat, especially for those with a large muscle mass from body building or other muscle building exercises. Being slightly over the recommended percent body fat range is not usually dangerous, but if you are 20% or more over your ideal weight you are considered at risk for serious health problems. Individuals in that group should consult a doctor for advice. There are several ways to determine your best weight and your health risk from being overweight. Body Composition Tests such as a Percent Body Fat tests, for example, using hydrostatic weighing or skinfold measurement, are the most accurate ways to determine the degree of overweight. These are usually performed by a doctor, health professional or weight loss professionals.
The calculated Body Mass Index (BMI) may be helpful to some degree, if you don't know your percent body fat, and can be performed at home by this test. BMI results should be interpreted with caution since persons with extensive muscle mass (athletes and body builders for example) also have increased BMIs. See these calculators for more information on the ideal body weight for males, or females. See these calculators for information on the generally accepted daily calories intake for males or females. For more detailed information on calories burned from participating in various activities, see our calculator. For the safest possible interpretation of any weight related information, see your doctor.
|
BMI Notation Chart
|
|
Age Group
|
Recommended
|
Overweight
|
Obese
|
Extremely Obese
|
|
under 17
|
15-20
|
21+
|
26+
|
34+
|
|
under 35
|
18-24
|
25+
|
30+
|
40+
|
|
35 and over
|
19-26
|
27+
|
30+
|
40+
|
|
BMI values below 19 for men and 18 for women indicate an underweight condition.
|
|
Calorie Table
|
| Exercise |
Approximate Calories Burned |
| Walking (brisk) |
100 calories burned per mile |
| Jogging |
120 calories burned per mile |
| Swimming |
100 calories burned in 20 minutes |
| Bicycling (easy pace) |
100 calories burned in 20 minutes |
| Aerobic exercise to music |
100 calories burned in 20 minutes |
| Gardening (vigorous) |
100 calories burned in 30 minutes |
|
For more detailed information on calories burned, see our Calculator
|
|
Updated: 6/11/11
|
