The Body Mass Index is a measurement of body mass that takes into account both height and weight and is used by healthcare professionals to identify people that may be overweight and therefore at risk for certain health problems, such as heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, and stroke.

Government guidelines suggest that a BMI of 25.0 to 29.9 indicates that you may be overweight. A person with a BMI of 26 to 27 is about 20 percent overweight. A BMI of 30 or more indicates obesity. The standard BMI guidelines do not apply to those over the age of 74 or well conditioned athletes who may have a higher BMI because of increased muscle density.

Please consult your local healthcare professional before beginning any weight management program.

To use the Body Mass Index Calculator simply: