[dr. bob]

The Virtual En-psych-lopedia
by Dr. Bob

Body Mass Index Calculator

Body Mass Index is one measure of obesity (or non-obesity). Here's an easy way to calculate it (as long as your web browser understands JavaScript).

Please remember, however, that this is only one of many possible ways to assess your weight. If you have any concerns about your weight, please discuss them with your physician, who is in a position, unlike this calculator, to address your specific individual situation.

Height: in m; weight: lb kg

If you enter your height in inches, it needs to be completely in inches. If your height is 5 feet 8 inches, for example, enter 68, not 58.

Optional: Age: years; gender: male female

Body mass index:
, considered:

Proposed age-adjusted body mass index:
, considered:

Percentile for age and gender:

The adjustment for age is a purely mathematical (not clinical) extension of the NRC adjustment, cited in Zeman, for the "healthy weight" range.

Weight from BMI [new]

Here, you can find out what weight (given the above height) would give you a particular BMI.

Target BMI:

Weight required:
lb kg

References

  1. McTavish D, Heel RC. Drugs 1992, 43: 713-33.
  2. Zeman FJ. Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics 1991; 481.
  3. Committee on Diet and Health, Food and Nutrition Board, National Research Council. Diet and Health: Implications for Reducing Chronic Disease Risk 1989.
  4. Nelson WE, Behrman RE, Kliefman RM, Arvin AM. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. W. B. Saunders Company. 1996. Edition 15: 63-67.
  5. Hammer LD, Kraemer HC, et al. Standardized percentile curves of body-mass index for children and adolescents. AJDC. 1991; 145: 259-263. [ from: http://www.medal.org/ The Medical Algorithms Project Release 5.0, March 2000 by John R. Svirbely, M.D., & M.G.Sriram, Ph.D. ]

Acknowledgements

Thanks to Bruce <bsch5555@voicenet.com>, Robb Kiser <rkiser@r.imap.itd.umich.edu>, George Nasra <nasdoc@penn.com>, Stephen R. Saklad <Saklad@uthscsa.edu>, and Gary Gleeson <gleeson@worksafe.wa.gov.au> for formulas and references.

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[dr. bob] Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD, bob@dr-bob.org

Revised: October 10, 2011
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/tips/bmi.html
Web page copyright 1997-2011 Robert Hsiung.