BMI - Body Mass Index Calculator

BMI Categories:

Limitations of the BMI:

The BMI measurement is a reliable indicator of your total body fat.

The score you get is mainly legit for most over the age of 18.

Exceptions:

• BMI may overestimate body fat in athletes and those people with a very muscular body.
• BMI may underestimate body fat in the elderly who have lost muscle mass over time.

The BMI is used to basically categorize populations for statistical reasons. It's accuracy is easily distorted by factors like muscle mass, fitness level, bone structure, ethnicity, and gender. People who are mesomorphic tend to have higher BMI numbers than people who are known as endomorphic, because they possess greater muscle mass and greater bone mass, than do endomorphic people.

An ectomorphic person could receive an abnormally low reading, when in fact their body type makes them naturally thin no matter what they consume.

People with short stature tend to have lower BMI. Therefore they should use a lower cut-off value for obesity diagnosis. The same applies to older people, whose reduced muscle mass can hide additional body fat without increasing BMI.

Definitions:

Endomorph - is a person that contains high body fat, and that gains weight very easily.

Ectomorph - is a person that's considered to be slim and usually underweight, and will often have a hard time gaining weight and building muscle mass.

Mesomorph - is a person that has an athletic build and can easily build strength.