Measuring BMI
What is BMI
BMI stands for ‘body mass index’. It’s a simple way to work out
whether someone is a healthy weight, underweight or overweight. It
calculates whether you are the right weight for your height.
BMI is calculated by dividing your weight in kilograms by your
height in metres squared.
For adults, a BMI over 25 is classified as overweight and a BMI
over 30 is very overweight – or obese.
A child's BMI is calculated using the same
method as for adults - weight in kilograms divided by height in
metres squared. But adult BMI ranges and charts must not be used to
determine whether a child is overweight or obese.
A BMI measurement is not as accurate for
people with a more muscular build or women who are pregnant or
breastfeeding as it does not recognise the difference between body
fat and muscle or other fluids.