Care Guides - Body mass index calculation

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Body mass index calculation

Your body mass index (BMI) estimates how much you should weigh, based on your height. A healthy BMI is between 18.5 and 25. This number represents the relationship between your height and weight. You can estimate your BMI by following the steps below.

Steps	Example:Someone who is 150 pounds and 5 feet 6 inches
1. Convert your weight in pounds to kilograms by dividing by 2.2.	150 lbs. 2.2 = 68.18 kg
2. Convert your height in feet to inches (1 foot = 12 inches).	5 feet 6 inches = 66 in
3. Convert your height to meters: multiply your height in inches by 2.54. Then divide by 100.	66 in. x 2.54 = 167.64 167.64/100 = 1.68 m
4. Multiply your height (in meters) by itself.	1.68 x 1.68 = 2.82
5. Divide your weight in kilograms (step 1) by your height squared (step 4).	68.18/2.82 = 24.18
	BMI = 24.2

Review Date: 6/28/2011
Reviewed By: Jeffrey Heit, MD, Internist with special emphasis on preventive health, fitness and nutrition, Philadelphia VA Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

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