BMI calculator
BMI, or body mass index, is one way of measuring whether you’re a healthy weight for your height.
The result gives an indication of whether you’re a healthy weight for how tall you are, and if not, how over or underweight you are. BMI isn’t always the best measure to use because there are other things that you need to consider when it comes to weight (see our limitations information further down the page). But it can be a useful guide.
Simply enter your details into our calculator to find out what your BMI is and whether you’re a healthy weight.
Height and Weight
Your BMI
Please enter you height and weight to get result
- Girls and boys develop differently and have different amounts of body fat at different ages. Therefore, a child’s age and sex are taken into account when looking at their BMI.
- As we age, we tend to have more body fat and less muscle, so BMI may underestimate body fat in older people.
- Athletes and people with a lot of muscle may have a high BMI but actually not have much body fat.
- Pregnant women gain weight as a result of their developing baby. However, it’s still preferable to have a healthy BMI before becoming pregnant to reduce health risks to both you and your developing baby.
- People from certain Black and Asian backgrounds are at risk of certain health problems at a lower BMI than others. Speak to your GP or practice nurse for more information.
- Body mass index – BMI. World Health Organization. www.euro.who.int, accessed 09 March 2021
- Obesity: identification, assessment and management. National Institute for Health & Care Excellence. www.nice.org.uk, published 27 November 2014
- Healthy Eating: Food Fact Sheet. British Dietetic Association. www.bda.uk.com, updated August 2020
- Bone health checklist. The Royal Osteoporosis Society. www.theros.org.uk, accessed 09 March 2021
- Underweight and fertility when planning a pregnancy. Tommy’s. www.tommys.org, updated 05 June 2018
- Healthy snacks: Food Fact Sheet. British Dietetic Association. www.bda.uk.com, updated September 2018
- Help and Treatment. Beat. www.beateatingdisorders.org.uk, last updated December 2020
- Health matters: obesity and the food environment. Public Health England. www.gov.uk, published 31 March 2017
- Macronutrients and energy balance. Oxford Handbook of Nutrition and Dietetics (3rd ed). Oxford Medicine Online. www.oxfordmedicine.com, April 2020
- UK Chief Medical Officers' Physical Activity Guidelines. Department of Health and Social Care. www.gov.uk, published 7 September 2019
- Body mass index: Considerations for Practitioners. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. www.cdc.gov, accessed 09 March 2021
- Weight management before, during and after pregnancy. National Institute for Health & Care Excellence. www.nice.org.uk, published 28 July 2010
Reviewed by Abbey Stanford, Specialist Heath Editor, Bupa Health Content Team, March 2021
Expert reviewer, Niamh Hennessy, Lead Dietitian, Cromwell Hospital
Next review due March 2024
Bupa Weight Management Plan
The Bupa weight management plan is designed for people with a BMI over 30 (or over 27 if you have a weight related condition). The plan is designed to empower you to achieve and maintain a healthy weight in a sustainable way.
To book or to make an enquiry, call us on 03452660566∧
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