Calculate Your Body Mass Index
Use the sliders below to set your height, weight and age.
Fill out your details and press Calculate to get your BMI.
BMI Categories
| less than 16.0 | Severley Underweight |
| 16.0 to 18.5 | Underweight |
| 18.5 to 25 | Normal |
| 25 to 30 | Overweight |
| 30 to 35 | Obese Class I |
| 35 to 40 | Obese Class II |
| over 40 | Obese Class III |
What is Body Mass Index (or BMI)?
Table 1.1
The Body Mass Index (BMI) is often used as a calculation for determining a persons percentage of fat based on their Height and Weight for people aged 18 to 65.
The actual calculation is shown in both Metric and Imperial in Table 1.1
Whilst it is generally accepted that the BMI index is a reasonable formula for determining a typical person's percentage of body fat, there are some other considerations that must be taken into account.
For example, if a person is:
- a body builder and their body weight would be substantially heavier
- is of a very short stature (height)
- of an Asian heritage.
The BMI Calculator also does not apply to infants, children, teens, pregnant or breast feeding women, extreme athletes or adults over the age of 65.
Underweight and Very Underweight
There is a huge difference between the two, but both can cause you to have certain health conditions.
For both Underweight and very underweight, the following health issues can be of a concern to you.
You increase your likelihood to have osteoporosis (the thinning of bone tissue, and loss of bone density over time).
Women may lose or have an irregular period, causing difficulties with conception.
Anemia (a lower than normal red blood cell count) is a high health risk, and symptoms include fatigue, pain in the chest and shortness of breath.
Immune System deficiencies from a lack of vital vitamins and nutrients. Examples of not getting enough vitamin D for example, wont let you metabolize calcium and you can contract a disease like rickets (softening and weakening of the bones)
And for persons who are Very underweight, you should consult with your physician or doctor and discuss your health issues.
Normal Weight and the BMI
Most people who use this BMI calculator and find they get a "normal" weight result will indeed be normal, and generally healthy for their age and height.
We must caution you again though, that this calculator is just a guide that does not include everyone. For example, if you are Asian, or a body builder, a pregnant or brest feeding woman, a child, infant young teenager or a person over the age of 65 - this BMI test will not work for you.
Below you will find table 1.2, which maps out the BMI tables for most weights and sizes so you can get an appreciation of how this BMI calculation works.
Table 1.2 - Click to expand
Overweight
Being overweight has considerable health risks, that include:
- Type 2 Diabetes, which is a disease in which your blood sugar levels are above normal, and can cause a huge array of symptoms including:
- Coronary Heart Disease
- Kidney Disease
- Stroke
- Amputation
- Blindness
- Cancer - occurs when cells in say your colon grow quickly and abnormally out of control, and then can spread to the rest of your body. It should be noted that Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the United States.
- Sleep Apnea - Essentially you stop breathing for short periods of time, and this puts a huge toll on your health from daytime sleepiness, inability to concentrate and most importantly heart failure.
- Osteoarthritis - is very common in people who are over weight, and it is the wearing away of tissue that protects the joints (especially in the knees and hips, and worst of all your lower back). This disease not only causes considerable pain, but limits your ability to do many activities from very early in your life if left untreated.
- Gall Bladder Disease - galls stones and inflammation of the gall bladder can produce more cholesterol that can causes mild to severe abdominal pains.
- And the list goes on...
Changing all this around takes but one decision - to start today and live a healthy lifestyle based on a good diet and exercise.
Benefits of weight loss surgery
For those who suffer from the burden of being obese, morbidly obese, or super obesity a possible resolution might be the option of bariatric surgery. There are many benefits to this that can aid in a healthier lifestyle for the obese patient.
There are some criteria for becoming eligible for Bariatric surgery. The first is to establish a person's Body Mass Index. This is an index derived from applying a formula to a person's height and weight. In general a BMI greater than 40 is the accepted criterion given the person is in good health. For persons suffering from medical problems such as diabetes mellitus, sleep apnea, severe arthritis in weight-bearing joints, uncontrollable cholesterol level that are aggravated or the severity increased by their obesity the surgery might be deemed appropriate for BMI's of greater than 35. Our website has a Body Mass Index Calculator to aid you in discovering whether you may be a candidate. The ultimate decision would be made by the surgeon performing the procedure.
Weight loss surgery and the resulting reduction in weight can relieve many of the more troublesome of symptoms that obese people suffer from, depression, hypertension, sleep apnea, and relief from diabetes. The effects of weight loss can be a genuine boon to the obese person. Along with the medical conditions that are relived in many patients, there is a general increase in life expectancy and a reduction in the death rate for those with weight issues. The American Society for Metabolic & Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS), reports that the mortality rate for bariatric surgery is about 0.1 percent, with a resulting increase their life expectancy by up to 89 percent. In 2007 the New England Journal of Medicine showed that among gastric bypass surgery patients, death from diabetes was reduced by 92 percent, death by coronary artery disease was reduced by 56 percent, and death by cancer was reduced by 60 percent.
Many procedures are performed through the use of Laparoscopic Surgery techniques which reduce the trauma to the body and offer a significant reduction in recovery time. Types of surgery generally offered are; gastric bypass, LapBand, realize band, slimband, vertical band, and Bariatric Revisions. The type of surgery is something to be discussed with your surgeon. While these are the most popular categories of weight loss surgery, there are others available that your surgeon can speak to you about.
Obesity is a chronic disease and not easily treated. There is not currently a medical cure for obesity other than weight loss surgery. There are medical treatments available and some success has been seen, but the overall majority of obese persons regain the weight that is lost. The key advantage to weight loss surgery is in that it physically restricts the intake of food in a person's body, which is the key element of any significant weight loss. Many of the modern weight loss surgeries have the advantage of allowing a person to maintain a normal healthy diet that includes delicious foods. Albeit these foods are ingested in greatly reduced quantities, the body adjusts to the diminished levels and it becomes a normal part of the person's life.
Much of the issues with obese people come from a fixation with food, and the attachment to food grows into an emotional issue. A regular part of bariatric surgery is consideration of the mental state of the patient. An initial psychological examination is a required part of qualifying for weight loss surgery. The weight loss resulting from this treatment has a remarked effect on the emotional state of the obese person. Being able to buy nice clothes, not having to worry about if you will fit in the booth at the restaurant, or the seat at a sports event or movie theater. The increased self-esteem, and the overall feeling of wellbeing that comes from not suffering from former medical complications combined with increased access to social events all contribute to a better view on yourself and your life.
Testament to the increase in emotional state can be gained by simply reading or listening to stories/before and after of people who have undergone weight loss surgery and have achieved their goal weight. Most surgeons have stories/before and after as a part of their websites or at their offices. Many Bariatric surgeons have weight loss surgery recipients on their staff and this can put a face to the stories. There is always a comprehensive follow-up program to bariatric surgery that aids in the recovery and adjustment a person has to go through as a result of the surgery.
Some people ask if there is some kind of way that the surgery can fail and the answer is, unfortunately, yes. In some cases, and these are a very low percentage, the initial surgery does not work as intended, or there are complications. This does not necessarily mean the end of the road. There is always the option in these circumstances for a supplementary bariatric procedure, known as a bariatric surgery revision, which can alter or repair the problem with the initial bariatric surgery. The incidence of this is, as stated, very low. The advantage to this being available is that there is a yet another avenue for the obese person to take if needed.
To sum up, the benefits far outweigh the detractors for having this surgery. In many cases this surgery, with the resulting positive improvements in psychological, emotional, and physical areas has the effect of completely changing a person's life, in a most optimistic fashion.
Dr. Mahbod Mark Paya, M.D. is the director and founder of SurgiThin (California Surgical Weight Loss Center) in West Hills, CA. A bariatric surgeon and obesity specialist, Dr. Paya has performed more than 5,000 laparoscopic procedures since 2004 to help morbidly obese patients from all parts of the United States.
Dr. Paya's dedication to the surgical treatment of obesity is reflected in his extensive education and continuing education certificates. He received his general medical degree at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York City in 1997. He went on to his residency at the University of California, Irvine Medical Center, where he became Chief Resident of general surgery, and received his fellowship in laparoscopy and bariatric surgery in 2004. Dr. Paya went even further in his own education for related procedures, including LAP-BAND placement, Laparoscopic Roux-en-Y, Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy and revision surgery and regularly performs these procedures at his practice.
Dr. Paya believes that weight loss surgery is a great solution for morbidly obese patients who have struggled to lose weight throughout life. In order to increase each patient’s chance of complete and permanent weight loss, Dr. Paya has developed a multi-disciplinary approach to augment and compliment every obesity surgery he performs. As a bariatric surgeon, he collaborates with a team of psychologists, nutritionists, anesthesiologists, exercise facilities and fitness trainers for a balanced approach with the goal of helping the patient achieve permanent weight loss. This proactive approach helps the patient address the challenges of permanent weight loss from every aspect, assisting in his or her rehabilitation to maximize healthy weight loss and maintain the loss once it has been achieved for the rest of the patient’s life. Dr. Paya and his staff believe that knowledge and education are key components in the success of each patient’s weight loss journey.
Dr. Paya and the staff at SurgiThin understand that the patient’s decision to undergo bariatric surgery is not an easy one to make. It is a complex procedure with its own set of risks. In addition, the patient must be dedicated and involved in his or her own success. Dr. Paya’s knowledge, skill and compassionate guidance, along with the support of his staff, helps the patient along the path to health with tools designed for maximum success with the fewest complications. The American Society of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS) recognize Dr. Paya and SurgiThin as qualified for their Centers of Excellence program. This program recognizes and rewards bariatric centers who provide suitable and appropriate equipment and support for patients who often exceed ideal body weight more than 75 pounds.
Dr. Paya has written obesity-related chapters in a number of general surgery books and has given lectures on bariatric surgery all over the United States, offering his insight and experience to other bariatric specialists. He has produced and published numerous videos on the subject of laparoscopic bariatric surgical procedures, including lap band, Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, sleeve gastrectomy and related procedures. He was also recently featured in a National Geographic special, "The Science of Obesity" and is regularly interviewed on national and local health reports on the subject of weight control, obesity and weight loss surgery.
Dr. Paya is board-certified in general surgery by the American Board of Surgery, a diplomat of the American College of Surgeons and a member of the Society of American Gastrointestinal Endoscopic Surgeons, the American Society of Bariatric Surgeons and the American College of Surgeons. He is affiliated with other hospitals, including the Center for Bariatric Surgery at the West Hills Hospital and Medical Center, Northridge Medical Hospital, UCI Medical Center and Hills Surgery Center.