Body mass index (BMI) is a value that estimates body fat based on a person's weight and height. A high BMI can indicate that a person has high body fat, while a low BMI can indicate that a person has low body fat. Since BMI does not take into account a variety of external factors for overall health, including muscle mass, gender, age, or family history, BMI cannot determine how healthy a person is. 

To calculate your BMI manually, there are two formulas you can use: one for English system measurements (pounds/inches) and one for metric system measurements (kilograms/meters).

Where:

- BMI = Body Mass Index
- W = Weight (in pounds)
- H = Height (in inches)

Where:

- BMI = Body Mass Index
- W = Weight (in kilograms)
- H = Height (in meters)

Throw on some athleisure, fire up a [MasterClass Annual Membership](https://www.masterclass.com), and get ready to sweat it out with exclusive instructional videos from Nike Master Trainer and *GQ* fitness specialist Joe Holder. Want to improve your cardiovascular endurance? Give Joe’s HIIT workout a go. Trying to get a little swole? He’s got a strength training workout for that. From fitness tips to nutrition hacks, Joe will have you feeling healthier in no time.
Body mass index is a method for determining a person’s amount of body fat.

Body mass index is a method for determining a person’s amount of body fat.

Body Mass Index Explained: How to Calculate BMI

Body mass index (BMI) is a value that estimates body fat based on a person&#39;s weight and height. A high BMI can indicate that a person has high body fat, while a low BMI can indicate that a person has low body fat. Since BMI does not take into account a variety of external factors for overall health, including muscle mass, gender, age, or family history, BMI cannot determine how healthy a person is.

What Is Body Mass Index?

To calculate your BMI manually, there are two formulas you can use: one for English system measurements (pounds/inches) and one for metric system measurements (kilograms/meters).Where:<ul class="mc-m-4 list-styled"><li class="">BMI = Body Mass Index </li><li class="">W = Weight (in pounds) </li><li class="">H = Height (in inches) </li></ul>

How to Calculate Body Mass Index

Where:<ul class="mc-m-4 list-styled"><li class="">BMI = Body Mass Index </li><li class="">W = Weight (in kilograms) </li><li class="">H = Height (in meters) </li></ul>

Throw on some athleisure, fire up a <a href='https://www.masterclass.com' target='_self' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com","linkCopy":"MasterClass Annual Membership","category":null}'>MasterClass Annual Membership</a>, and get ready to sweat it out with exclusive instructional videos from Nike Master Trainer and GQ fitness specialist Joe Holder. Want to improve your cardiovascular endurance? Give Joe’s HIIT workout a go. Trying to get a little swole? He’s got a strength training workout for that. From fitness tips to nutrition hacks, Joe will have you feeling healthier in no time.

Want to Dive Deeper Into Your Wellness Journey?

Body mass index is a method for determining a person’s amount of body fat.