Body Mass Index from height and weight.
These calculators use established formulas (such as Mifflin-St Jeor for calorie needs or the Devine formula for ideal weight) to provide general estimates. They're built for a general population and don't account for individual medical conditions, medications, or circumstances. They aren't a substitute for advice from a doctor, registered dietitian, or other qualified healthcare provider — especially for anything related to pregnancy, chronic conditions, or medication dosing.
BMI = weight (kg) / height² (m²). A population-level screening tool grouping adults into underweight, normal, overweight, and obese.
Does not distinguish muscle from fat, so it misclassifies muscular athletes as overweight. Use waist-to-hip ratio or body-fat % for a nuanced individual picture.
BMI was originally developed in the 1830s as a population statistics tool, not an individual diagnostic measure — that historical context is part of why health professionals increasingly treat it as one data point among several rather than a standalone verdict.
175 cm, 70 kg adult: BMI = 70 / (1.75)² = 22.9 — Normal (18.5–24.9).
<18.5 underweight, 18.5–24.9 normal, 25–29.9 overweight, ≥30 obese (WHO adult cutoffs).
For population screening, yes. For individuals — especially athletes, elderly, or Asian populations — it can mislead. Combine with waist for clarity.
Only two levers: lose weight or safely grow taller. Modest calorie deficit + strength training is the standard approach.
No — children and teens use age- and sex-specific percentile charts instead of the fixed adult cutoffs, since body composition changes significantly during growth.