What is BMI?
BMI stands for Body Mass Index. It is a method used for measuring your weight relative to your height to dicatate if your are normal, underweight or obese. People who are tall, can afford to be heavier than those who are shorter. That being said, BMI isn't a totally accurate measurement to calculate your body fat totals.
This index was formulated by a Belgian statistician named Adolphe Quelet and was also known as the Quetelet index.
There are other methods far more accurate such as underwater weighing, to test your body fat measurement. However, to undergo an underwater weighing measurement, one has to have a pool with measurements and be ready to get wet... and it's expensive. The BMI method is far easier when getting an estimate result because the only input you need is your height and weight. Check out the BMI Calculator we have here!
BMI calculation is lest accurate when you are an athelete or pumped with muscles because muscles weighs more than fat. Being physically fit can actually push you into a higher BMI category despite having lean levels of body fats.
The BMI calculator is also not suitable for pregnant women or those in the breastfeeding stage.
Due to just using a formula to determine your BMI, doctors love to use this method to calculate and prove to it's patients that they are normal / underweight / obese.
Instead of putting more money into their pocket, here's a free BMI Calculator that be done under 10 seconds!