Body Mass Index (Reference Values)
Body Mass Index (BMI) is a measure of body fat based on height and weight that applies to adult men and women.
Body Mass Index Categories:
< 18.5: Underweight
18.5-24.9: Normal Weight
25 – 29.9: Overweight
> 30: Obese
Body Mass Index Calculation Formula in Feet
BMI = Weight (pounds) / height * height (inches) X 703
Steps for calculating Body Mass Index:
- My height is 5’7 feet. I convert to inches, 5 feet x 12 + 7 = 67 inches
- I multiply my height in inches with itself: 67 *67 = 4489
- I divide my weight in pounds with the number I found above:
If I am 149 pounds I have: 149 / 4489 =0.03319 - I multiply this number with 703. So my BMI is 0.03319 * 703= 23.3
- 23.3 is my Body Mass Index. In the reference values, I see that I am at Normal Weight
BMI is a purely indicative tool with a deviation in cases of athletes and people with increased muscle mass.