Calculating your body-mass index

The body-mass index is a common measure of obesity. It’s the ratio of weight in kilograms to height in meters squared. Here’s how to calculate yours:

(Your weight in kilograms) = (0.4535) x (your weight in pounds)

(Your height in meters) = (0.0254) x (your height in inches)

(Your BMI) = (your weight in kilograms) / (your height in meters, squared)

For adults 20 years old or older, the National Institutes of Health have established these four categories based on BMI levels:

Below 18.5underweight

18.5 to 24.9healthy

25.0 to 29.9overweight

30.0 or higherobese

—Karen Ravn