BMI Calculator

Body Mass Index is the most widely used screening tool for healthy weight ranges in adults because it requires only two easily-measured inputs: weight and height. While imperfect, it provides a useful starting point for conversations about weight and health, and population-level research on BMI and disease risk is extensive.

The primary limitation of BMI is that it cannot distinguish between muscle and fat. A 200-pound bodybuilder at 6 feet tall has the same BMI as a sedentary 200-pound person at 6 feet with 35% body fat — despite very different health profiles. This is why BMI should always be interpreted alongside body composition measures (body fat percentage, waist circumference) for individuals with significant athletic development.

For most non-athlete adults, BMI tracks reasonably well with body fat percentage and metabolic health. If your BMI is in the overweight or obese range and you don't have significant muscle mass, it's a worthwhile health signal — even modest weight loss (5–10% of body weight) consistently improves blood pressure, blood glucose, cholesterol, sleep quality, and joint stress.