Body Mass Index (BMI) Calculator
The Body Mass Index (BMI) is a simple numerical measure that is commonly used to classify whether an individual's weight is healthy in relation to their height. It's a widely accepted screening tool for potential weight problems for adults. While not a diagnostic tool, it can indicate potential health risks associated with being underweight, normal weight, overweight, or obese.
How to Use the BMI Calculator:
- Enter your current weight in the designated field.
- Enter your height in the designated field.
- Select your preferred unit system: Metric (kilograms and centimeters) or Imperial (pounds and inches).
- Click the "Calculate BMI" button to see your result and category.
Understanding Your BMI Result:
The calculated BMI value falls into different categories, each indicating a general health status:
- Underweight: BMI less than 18.5
- Normal weight: BMI between 18.5 and 24.9
- Overweight: BMI between 25 and 29.9
- Obese: BMI of 30 or greater
Why BMI Matters:
Maintaining a healthy BMI is crucial for overall well-being. Being underweight can lead to weakened immune function, osteoporosis, and other health issues. Conversely, being overweight or obese significantly increases the risk of chronic diseases such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, certain cancers, and sleep apnea.
Limitations of BMI:
While useful, BMI has limitations. It doesn't differentiate between muscle mass and fat mass. For example, a very muscular athlete might have a high BMI, classifying them as "overweight" even though they have very little body fat. Similarly, older adults may have a normal BMI but higher body fat due to muscle loss. Other factors like body fat distribution, age, gender, and ethnicity also play a role in health risk assessment. Therefore, BMI should be used as a screening tool and not as the sole indicator of health.
Examples:
- Metric Example: A person weighing 70 kg and standing 1.75 m (175 cm) tall would have a BMI of 22.86 (Normal weight).
- Imperial Example: A person weighing 150 lbs and standing 5 feet 7 inches (67 inches) tall would have a BMI of 23.49 (Normal weight).
- Overweight Example: A person weighing 90 kg and standing 1.70 m (170 cm) tall would have a BMI of 31.14 (Obese).
Disclaimer: This BMI calculator provides an estimate based on standard formulas. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional for personalized health assessments and recommendations.
function calculateBMI() { var weightInput = document.getElementById("weight").value; var heightInput = document.getElementById("height").value; var unitMetric = document.getElementById("unitMetric").checked; var unitImperial = document.getElementById("unitImperial").checked; var weight; var height; var bmi; var category; var resultDiv = document.getElementById("bmiResult"); // Input validation if (weightInput === "" || isNaN(weightInput) || parseFloat(weightInput) <= 0) { resultDiv.innerHTML = "Please enter a valid positive weight."; return; } if (heightInput === "" || isNaN(heightInput) || parseFloat(heightInput) <= 0) { resultDiv.innerHTML = "Please enter a valid positive height."; return; } weight = parseFloat(weightInput); height = parseFloat(heightInput); if (unitMetric) { // Metric: weight in kg, height in cm. Convert cm to meters. height = height / 100; // Convert cm to meters bmi = weight / (height * height); } else if (unitImperial) { // Imperial: weight in lbs, height in inches. Convert to kg and meters. weight = weight * 0.453592; // lbs to kg height = height * 0.0254; // inches to meters bmi = weight / (height * height); } else { resultDiv.innerHTML = "Please select a unit system (Metric or Imperial)."; return; } // Determine BMI category if (bmi = 18.5 && bmi = 25 && bmi < 29.9) { category = "Overweight"; } else { category = "Obese"; } resultDiv.innerHTML = "Your BMI is: " + bmi.toFixed(2) + "" + "Category: " + category + ""; }