Use our BMI calculator below or calculate your own using the formula provided.

1. The first step would be to multiply your weight in pounds by 703. 

2. Next, multiply your height in inches by your height in inches again. So if you are 65 inches tall, you're going to multiply 65 by 65. 

3. The third and last step is to divide your answer in step one - your weight multiplied by 703 - by your answer in step two. That will give you your body mass index. [For instance, if you are 124 pounds and 5 feet tall, your BMI would be 24.2 (87,172 ¸ 3,600) ]

A BMI of less than 18.5 is considered underweight. A BMI between 18.5 and 24.9 is considered a healthy body weight, overweight is categorized as 25 to 29.9, and obesity is categorized as a BMI of 30 and above. The BMI is only related to health risk, not appearance. Health risks start to increase as BMI gets above 25 and dramatically increase with a BMI of 30 and above. Since you can't change your height, the only way to shift to a lower number in the BMI range is by lowering body weight. Health risk improves with just a mild weight loss. Even a 5% weight loss can result in profound health improvements. For those people who have a BMI over 30, losing 5% is very important.