BMI calculator | Bupa UK (2023)

FAQs

What is the formula for BMI UK? ›

The BMI calculation divides your weight in kilograms by your height in metres squared. For example, if you weigh 70kg (around 11 stone) and are 1.73m (around 5 feet 8 inches) tall, you work out your BMI by: squaring your height: 1.73x1.73 = 2.99. dividing 70 (your weight) by 2.99 = 23.41.

BMI ranges

between 18.5 and 24.9 – This is described as the 'healthy range'. between 25 and 29.9 – This is described as overweight. between 30 and 39.9 – This is described as obesity. 40 or over – This is described as severe obesity.

According to the BMI weight status categories, anyone with a BMI between 25 and 29.9 would be classified as overweight and anyone with a BMI over 30 would be classified as having obesity. However, athletes may have a high BMI because of increased muscularity rather than increased body fatness.

Formula: weight (lb) / [height (in)]² x 703

When using English measurements, ounces (oz) and fractions must be changed to decimal values. Then, calculate BMI by dividing weight in pounds (lb) by height in inches (in) squared and multiplying by a conversion factor of 703.

Body Mass Index is a simple calculation using a person's height and weight. The formula is BMI = kg/m² where kg is a person's weight in kilograms and m² is their height in metres squared. A BMI of 25.0 or more is overweight, while the healthy range is 18.5 to 24.9.

Adult obesity in England

Obesity is usually defined as having a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or above. BMI between 25 and 30 is classified as 'overweight'. The survey, published in December 2022, found that men are more likely than women to be overweight or obese (68.6% of men, 59.0% of women).

18.5 to 24.9 – you're in the healthy weight range. 25 to 29.9 – you're in the overweight range. 30 to 39.9 – you're in the obese range. 40 or above – you're in the severely obese range.

18.5 to 24.9 - you have a healthy weight range for young and middle-aged adults. 25.0 to 29.9 - you are overweight. Over 30 - you are obese.

Am I fat if my BMI is 25? ›

If your BMI is less than 18.5, it falls within the underweight range. If your BMI is 18.5 to <25, it falls within the healthy weight range. If your BMI is 25.0 to <30, it falls within the overweight range. If your BMI is 30.0 or higher, it falls within the obesity range.

If your BMI is between 25 and 30: Overweight

You are considered overweight and should finds ways to lower your weight, through diet and exercise. You are at increased risk for a variety of illnesses at your present weight. You should lose weight by changing your diet and exercising more.

BMI (body mass index), which is based on the height and weight of a person, is an inaccurate measure of body fat content and does not take into account muscle mass, bone density, overall body composition, and racial and sex differences, say researchers from the Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania.

To have your best chance at maintaining good health, you should aim for: Men should have a waist circumference of 40 inches or less. Women should have a waist circumference of 35 inches or less.

A new study found that your waist-to-hip ratio might be a more accurate measure of what's a healthy weight for you than your BMI.

Body mass index (BMI) relates weight to height in a normalized index that was first published in Quetelet's 18th Century treatise on 'the average man'. BMI is defined as weight (in kilograms) divided by height (in metres) squared.

Tape measure.

Men: 64 - (20 x height/waist circumference) = RFM. Women: 76 - (20 x height/waist circumference) = RFM.

To determine body weight in pounds, the desired BMI is multiplied by 5 and then add BMI/5 lb for each inch >5 ft in height. For instance, for a BMI of 20, start with 100 lb for a height of 5 ft and add 4 lb for each additional inch of height. For a BMI of 25, start with 125 lb and add 5 lb for each inch of height.

Even though it is often used as one, it is not a true diagnostic of body fatness or of an individual's overall health. As most of us fitness-focused folks have likely heard, BMI is far from a perfect measurement.

For example, a person who weighs 180 lbs. and is 5 feet and 5 inches tall (65 inches total) would calculate their BMI in the following way: 180 x 703 = 126,540. 126,540 / 65 = 1,946.769. 1,946.769 / 65 = 29.95.

Is UK more obese than America? ›

The UK is the most overweight nation in Western Europe, with levels of obesity growing faster than in the US, a new report has warned.

According to data from the World Health Organization (WHO), the most obese countries are primarily located in the Pacific and the Middle East. The Pacific island nations of Nauru, Cook Islands, and Palau have the highest rates of obesity, with over 30% of their populations being classified as obese.

Summary of Results. In 2016, the age-standardized (estimated) obesity prevalence (for the age group 20–84 years), based on the NCD-RisC 2017 data, ranged from 29.3% (UK men) to 19.5% (Swiss women) in the 18 European countries, compared to about 38.5% in the USA.

In 2021, the mean body mass index (BMI) of men in England stood at 27.5, while the mean BMI for women was 27.2.

In 2021, the mean weights of men and women based on adjustments to self-reported weight were 85.1kg and 71.8kg, respectively. Based on measured values, mean weight between 1993 and 2019 increased from 78.9kg to 85.4kg among men, and from 66.6kg to 72.1kg among women.

In the United States, the average adult man has a BMI of 26.6 and the average adult woman has a BMI of 26.5. Although BMI is not a measure of body fatness, persons classified as obese, tend to have excess body fat.

Older people.

In older adults it is often better to have a BMI of 25 to 27, rather than under 25. If you are older than 65, for example, a slightly higher BMI may help protect you from thinning of the bones (osteoporosis).

BMI changes substantially with age. After about 1 year of age, BMI-for-age begins to decline and it continues falling during the preschool years until it reaches a minimum around 4 to 6 years of age. After 4 to 6 years of age, BMI-for-age begins a gradual increase through adolescence and most of adulthood.

What weight is usually a size 14? ›

On average, a size 14 can weigh anywhere from 140-200 pounds.

Diaper Size Guide: How to Get the Right Fit

But in some cases, you might need to choose between two sizes, as the weight ranges can overlap. For example, a size 4 diaper's weight range is between 22 and 37 pounds, a size 5 diaper's weight range is over 27 pounds, and a size 6 diaper's weight range is above 35 pounds.

The more weight lost, the more blood pressure can drop. As you lose weight, it may be possible to reduce your dose of blood pressure medication — or stop taking blood pressure medication completely. Never make changes to your blood pressure medication on your own, however. Talk to your health care provider first.

How much should I walk if my BMI is 30? We recommend walking 10,000 steps or 90 minutes a day if you fall into BMI's “overweight” category. The good news is, within the year, you can move into the “healthy” weight bracket by walking an hour and a half a day.

Your starting weight plays a key role in how fast (or slow) you lose weight. The more overweight a person is, the faster they can lose. Conversely, if you want to lose those last 10 pounds, the process will be painfully slow.

Another 30.7% of American adults were overweight, with a BMI of 25 to 29.9. When the results were stratified by age, adults 40 to 59 saw the highest rates of obesity, with 45% of this age group with a BMI of 30 or higher. Middle-aged men had the highest prevalence of obesity, at a rate of 46%.

BMI doesn't account for body composition, which means it misses the difference between muscle mass and fat. Because muscles are more dense and heavier than fat, bodybuilders and other professional athletes like football players are often considered obese or overweight based on their BMI alone.

More and more research shows that there are biological and genetic differences in the relationship between weight, muscle mass and disease risk among different groups of people. BMI does not account for that. Certain genetic factors can affect BMI accuracy because of their effect on weight distribution and muscle mass.

Why is BMI not perfect? ›

That said, BMI is not a perfect measure because it does not directly assess body fat. Muscle and bone are denser than fat, so BMI can overestimate body fat in athletes with high bone density and muscle mass or underestimate it in older people who have low bone density and muscle mass.

The bottom line. The average American woman's waist size is 38.7 inches. Also, the average American woman is 63.6 inches tall and weigh 170 pounds.

Waist Circumference

If most of your fat is around your waist rather than at your hips, you're at a higher risk for heart disease and type 2 diabetes. This risk goes up with a waist size that is greater than 35 inches for women or greater than 40 inches for men.

When a person's Waist to Height Ratio falls between 0.43 and 0.46 in males and between 0.42 to 0.46 in females, the person is said to be slender and healthy. When a person's Waist to Height Ratio falls between 0.46 and 0.53 in males and between 0.46 to 0.49 in females, the person is said to be a healthy individual.

Qardio Base2 WiFi Smart Scale and Body Analyzer

It accurately calculates weight, BMI, and full body composition, including body fat percentage, muscle mass, water, and bone mass, alerting you with gentle vibrations when your measurements are complete.

A BMI measurement can be flat wrong in some cases, said Thomas Wadden, professor of psychology at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania.

The metric formula for BMI is weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared. The imperial BMI formula is your weight in pounds (lbs) divided by your height in inches, squared, and then you multiply this figure by a conversion factor of 703.

One note: While BMI is calculated the same way for children and teens, its interpretation and how it relates to weight status is dependent on age and sex. BMI calculations are not adjusted for gender (except when they're used for children and teens), so BMI charts are the same for adult men and women.

What is a healthy BMI for my age? ›

18.5 to 24.9 - you have a healthy weight range for young and middle-aged adults. 25.0 to 29.9 - you are overweight. Over 30 - you are obese.

Another option is to simply change your height in centimeters to meters by moving the decimal two places to the left. For example, 152 centimeters equals 1.52 meters. Then, find your BMI by squaring your height in meters and then dividing your weight by your height in meters squared.

In contrast to other methods, BMI relies solely on height and weight and with access to the proper equipment, individuals can have their BMI routinely measured and calculated with reasonable accuracy. Furthermore, studies have shown that BMI levels correlate with body fat and with future health risks.

The only difference between the imperial system and the U.S. system is in volume measurements. Not only are the number of ounces in pints, quarts, and gallons all larger in the imperial system, the size of one fluid ounce is also different, as shown in the table in Table 7. 1 (fluid) oz.

Experts have also pointed out that BMI fails to take into account factors such as how much fat versus muscle a patient has, the distribution of fat in their body (typically, fat around the waist increases disease risk more than fat in other places), and their metabolic health.

Units of measurement

You must use metric measurements (grams, kilograms, millilitres or litres) when selling packaged or loose goods in England, Scotland or Wales. There are different rules in Northern Ireland. The only products you can sell in imperial measures are: draught beer or cider by pint.