The BMI Calculator: Use the Body Mass Index Calculator for Adults and Teens to Calculate BMI Percentiles

Figuring out if you're at a truly healthy weight can feel like a guessing game. However, the body mass index calculator gives you an objective measure to work with. Let's dig into how to use this tool to take control of your health.

The body-mass-index tool gives you a quick snapshot of your weight status using just your height and weight. Just input your stats and it generates your body-mass-index value along with a general weight category - underweight, normal, overweight, or obese.

Monitoring your Body-mass index can give valuable insights into achieving and maintaining a healthy body weight. This article will cover how to use the body-mass-index tool, what your BMI means for your health, and how it relates to risks like cancer. Let's dive in!

1. How can I use the BMI calculator widget?

This widget on this page allows you to easily determine your Body-mass index. Here's how to use it:

1. Enter your height in feet/inches or centimeters. Make sure to specify units.
2. Enter your weight in pounds or kilograms. Again, be sure to choose the right units.
3. Click "Determine".

By entering height and weight measurements, the body-mass-index tool provides BMI values and their corresponding weight categories, allowing you to see where you fall on the spectrum from underweight to obese.
The Body-mass index calculation divides weight in kilograms by height in meters squared. So you don't need to do any math yourself - just plug your numbers into the calculator widget and it does the work for you!

Enter your height in cm and weight in kg:

2. What adults and teens percentiles indicate issues computed by BMI?

Unlike with children, BMI for adults and teens does not use percentages. Rather, standard weight status categories based on fixed BMI ranges are used:

• Underweight: BMI below 18.5
• Normal weight: BMI 18.5 - 24.9
• Overweight: BMI 25 - 29.9
• Obese: BMI over 30

So an adult BMI falling into the obese range indicates health issues may be present. However, a high BMI percentage in a child only means they weigh more than peers and are not necessarily overweight by adult standards.

3. What health information can I learn from Calculating Your BMI?

Beyond just giving you a number, your body mass index can provide insight into your overall health and potential disease risks. Here are some key things the body-mass-index tool can tell you:

• General weight status: Body-mass-index provides a general gauge of whether you are underweight, normal weight, overweight, or obese based on weight for height. This gives you a starting point to assess weight health.
• Body composition: Higher body-mass index tends to correspond to a higher body fat percentage. BMI is an indirect measure of body fat.
• Health risks: Being under- or overweight can increase disease risks like heart disease, diabetes, and cancer. BMI can identify if your weight may be putting your health at risk.
• Fitness level: Athletes and very fit people may have a high BMI due to increased muscle mass. Comparing BMI to other measures like body fat percentage gives a more complete fitness picture.
• Weight changes: Tracking Body-mass-index over time provides feedback on whether attempts to lose, gain, or maintain weight are working.

So while not a perfect measure, the body-mass index is simple, it provides an affordable, accessible metric for evaluating weight and guiding health goals. Use it as one piece of your health assessment puzzle.

4. Can the BMI calculator calculate child percentiles?

Yes, the body-mass-index tool for children and teens allows you to see the BMI percentage for a given child's age and sex. Rather than strict BMI categories used for adults, body-mass-index percentages demonstrate how a child compares to other children of the same age and sex.
To find a child's body-mass-index percentage:

1. Enter the child's age, height, weight, and biological sex.
2. Click "Determine".
3. BMI percentage appears based on CDC growth chart data

Tracking percentages over time detects unhealthy changes. A healthcare provider can interpret what the body-mass-index percentage means for that child's health. BMI percentages between the 5th and 85th percentages are considered a healthy weight range. Maintaining an age-appropriate BMI throughout development promotes lifelong health.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website has a credible children's BMI calculator available: here is the link.

5. Uncover your body fat by finding your body mass index percentages with the CDC tool

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) offers an online body-mass-index tool as part of their Healthy Weight resources. This calculator not only provides your overall BMI but also body fat percentage estimates associated with your BMI.
Entering height, weight, age and sex will compute:

• Your BMI
• BMI percentage and category (if under 20 years old)
• Estimated fat in the body percentage

Because BMI is an indirect measure of body composition, the CDC tool goes further by giving body fat percentage ranges linked to each BMI category. For example, a BMI of 30 equates to roughly 30-35% fat in the body. in women and 25-30% in men.

This can help distinguish between a high BMI due to fat versus lean muscle mass. Athletes often have elevated body-mass-index despite low fat in the body. Seeing your estimated fat percentage along with BMI gives a more complete picture.

Use the CDC tool along with other body composition tests for a well-rounded perspective on your weight status and fitness level. BMI offers helpful baseline information to build on.

6. What cancer risks are identified by the American Cancer Society for excess weight?

The American Cancer Society (ACS) reports that excess body weight is linked to an increased risk of developing several types of cancer. This is concerning given that about 2 in 3 adults in the U.S. are considered overweight or obese based on BMI.
Some of the cancers that have been connected to excess body fat include:

• Breast cancer: Excess weight increases estrogen levels in postmenopausal women, which can accelerate breast cancer growth.
• Colon and rectal cancers: Obesity increases insulin, inflammation, and oxidative stress, all of which may contribute to tumor development.
• Uterine and cervical cancers: Higher BMI is correlated to increased risk as body fatness affects hormone levels.
• Kidney cancer: Obesity-related health issues like high blood pressure and diabetes are kidney cancer risk factors.
• Pancreatic cancer: Increased blood lipids and fatty tissue hormones linked to overweight/obesity may raise risk.
• Esophageal cancer: Fatty tissue in the abdomen may increase pressure, leading to gastric reflux that damages esophageal cells.

The ACS cites cancer prevention as a major reason for maintaining a healthy body weight at all ages. Reaching and staying within normal BMI limits can significantly lower your susceptibility to obesity-related cancers.

7. How does the BMI calculator help children and teens to estimate the risks of cancer?

The body-mass-index tool allows children and teens to track their BMI percentage, which can identify unhealthy weight gain patterns that may persist into adulthood and increase future disease risks.

Because childhood obesity often continues into the adult years, identifying and addressing weight problems early is critical for cancer prevention. Obese youth are around 5 times more likely to be obese adults compared to normal-weight youth, research shows.

Calculating BMI annually and monitoring changes over time enables early detection and intervention for unhealthy growth trends. If a child's BMI percentage is rising rapidly compared to peers, steps can be taken to improve diet and increase physical activity levels before obesity becomes entrenched.

Maintaining an age-appropriate BMI percentage throughout development can help avoid obesity and subsequent cancer risks in adulthood. The body-mass-index tool provides an accessible way for children and teens to quantify weight status and take proactive measures to reach a healthy weight.

8. What health risks are related to excess body weight?

Carrying excess body weight can increase your risks for several health problems. Here are some of the dangers of overweight and obesity:

• Heart disease and stroke: Excess weight stresses the cardiovascular system and contributes to high blood pressure, coronary artery disease, and abnormal cholesterol levels.
• Type 2 diabetes: Obesity is closely linked to insulin resistance and higher blood sugar levels, hallmarks of type 2 diabetes. Over 90% of those diagnosed with diabetes are overweight.
• Certain cancers: Several cancers are more prevalent among those carrying excess fat tissue, especially breast, uterine, colon, and kidney cancers.
• Gallstones: Rapid weight loss and obesity are among the main risk factors for developing gallstones. Excess cholesterol in bile contributes to gallstone formation.
• Osteoarthritis: Extra weight puts mechanical stress on joints, especially the hips, knees, and lower back. Joint cartilage breakdown can lead to osteoarthritis.
• Fatty liver disease: Obesity promotes fat accumulation and inflammation in liver cells, which may progress to liver scarring and failure.

Even losing only 5% of body weight if obese can significantly decrease these risks. Consult your doctor to create a weight loss plan tailored to your health needs and BMI. Small steps can have a big impact.

Key Takeaways:

• The body-mass-index tool provides objective metrics to evaluate weight status and progress.
• Higher BMIs often correlate to increased disease risks like certain cancers, diabetes, and heart disease.
• For kids, BMI percentages demonstrate weight relative to other children of the same age and sex.
• Losing just 5-10% of body weight can dramatically improve health if BMI indicates excess weight.
• Use BMI as one benchmark along with other measures to optimize health and fitness.

So don't let the numbers on the scale get you down. Instead, let the BMI calculator guide you toward positive change. A healthy weight is within your reach!