Frequently Asked Questions on Body Mass Index (BMI)

Our FAQ page answers a wide range of questions about your Body Mass Index (BMI) and our BMI Healthy Weight Calculator. Using the BMI Calculator, you can estimate your BMI, but it does not provide a risk assessment for mortality or morbidity.

Medical advice of the type offered by qualified medical professionals should not be substituted for the information on this page. Consult your doctor if you need specific medical advice.

What is a BMI calculator?

A BMI calculator app is a tool used to calculate an individual’s Body Mass Index, which helps determine whether someone is underweight, healthy, overweight, or obese. It is based on the height and weight of the person in question. The result can be an important indicator for health concerns such as heart disease and diabetes. Knowing your BMI can help you make informed decisions about your health.

How can I calculate my BMI?

Calculating your BMI is easy and straightforward. Simply enter your height and weight into our BMI calculator, and it will provide an accurate indication of your Body Mass Index score within seconds. With just this information, you can identify whether you are underweight, healthy, overweight, or obese.

What is a good BMI rating?

A healthy BMI rating falls between 18.5 and 25, while a rating below 18.5 indicates being underweight and a number over 25 points to being overweight or obese. Knowing your BMI is important because it helps you make informed decisions about your health.

What is a good BMI for my age?

While BMI is a good indicator of general health, it changes at various stages of life depending on our age. It is recommended to compare your BMI with the average for your own age group. For example, the healthy range for an adult 18-24 years old would be between 18.5 and 24.9. It is important to note that each individual should consult their doctor to determine the healthiest BMI for them.

How do you manually calculate your BMI?

Calculating your BMI manually can be done as follows: first, take your weight in kilograms and divide it by your height in meters squared. The resulting number is your BMI. For example, if you weigh 70kg and are 1.7m tall, then your BMI would be 24.22 (70/2.89=24.22).

How much should you exercise according to BMI?

Depending on your BMI results the answer to this question will differ slightly. To maintain a healthy lifestyle, it is recommended to exercise at least 30mins per day if your schedule allows it. To lose weight through exercise, you will need to combine this with a healthy diet. The best exercise for burning fat and losing weight is HIIT workouts (high-intensity interval training). If you did a HIIT workout 3 times a week for 30mins combined with a healthy diet (look at carb cycling) then you will see results.

How much should I walk according to my BMI calculator?

If you are walking to lose weight, you should walk at least 10,000 steps every day. In some cases, people may even wish to increase their total number of steps beyond this level. Even if you do not take the recommended number of steps every day, taking any additional steps can assist you in losing weight.
 
Do you need to walk a lot to reach a healthy body mass index if you wish to lose weight? Ideally, you should walk 5 miles per day to lose weight. Around 3,500 calories will be burned per week, equal to one pound of fat.

How much should I run daily according to the BMI calculator?

Running is a great way to lose weight and improve your overall health. To reach a healthy body mass index, you should aim to run for 30 minutes 3-5 times per week. You can increase the duration of your runs gradually to reach 60 minutes per session, which will help you burn more calories and make significant progress in terms of your BMI.

Is BMI accurate for people who exercise?

Yes, BMI can still be an accurate measure for people who exercise. However, it is important to note that BMI does not take into account factors such as muscle mass and body fat percentage, which are important indicators of health. Therefore, it is recommended to also track other metrics in addition to your BMI when monitoring your overall health.

What are the NHS Recommendations for my BMI Calculator results?

NHS recommends discussing weight and general health with your general practitioner based on your BMI results.

Find out more about family health on the Change4Life website.

It is known that people who have an overweight or obese BMI and excess body fat around their waists are more likely to develop serious diseases such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes, strokes, and certain types of cancer.