Body Mass Index (BMI) Calculator

In this blog article, we show you what the Body Mass Index is, how you can calculate your BMI, the differences in the BMI calculator between men, women and children and how you can estimate your BMI using BMI tables.

What is the BMI and what does it say?

The Body Mass Index, or BMI for short, is a measure of body weight in relation to height. It was developed in 1832 by the mathematician Adolphe Quetelet and first became popular in the USA, as insurance companies used it to calculate life insurance premiums and take into account the risk of obesity. The development was therefore primarily for economic rather than health policy reasons.

Body height and weight are put in relation to each other, but the fat percentage, muscle mass and bone density are not taken into account. This particularly affects strength athletes, who have a low body fat percentage with a higher body weight. The BMI is therefore only of limited use in this case, as well as for people with a higher bone density or a larger bone diameter. What is important overall is how comfortable you feel in your body and with your weight, whether you live a healthy and conscious lifestyle and eat accordingly. If you have the feeling that your diet may have gotten a little out of hand, a juice cleanse could help you get back on track and become more aware of your natural feelings of hunger and satiety. You can find more information and recipes for a healthy diet after the juice cleanse here.

What is the formula for the BMI calculator?

The BMI formula for the calculation is

BMI = body weight / (height in meters * height in meters)

How can I assess my value using the BMI table?

The Body Mass Index is calculated for women, men and children using the same formula and can be roughly categorized for adults using BMI tables to estimate whether they are underweight, normal weight, overweight or already obese.

Table 1: BMI table for women and men

In this context, however, not only gender but also age plays an essential role. Men generally have a higher proportion of muscle mass in their weight than women, which is why the respective upper and lower limits are somewhat higher for men. People naturally gain weight after the age of 40, but their weight decreases as they get older due to natural muscle loss, as muscle is heavier than fat.

• BMI women

The optimum range for body mass index varies according to age in women as follows:

Table 2: BMI table for women

• BMI men

The optimal BMI for men is in the following ranges, depending on age :

Table 3: BMI table for men

• BMI children and adolescents

For girls , the Body Mass Index can be classified according to age.

Table 4: BMI table for girls

For boys, however, a separate BMI table applies.

Table 5: BMI table for boys

Frequently asked questions about BMI:

What BMI is ok?

Once you have calculated your body mass index using the BMI calculator, you can classify it using the corresponding tables, which are sorted by gender and age (see BMI tables).

From a BMI of 25, we generally speak of overweight and from a value of 30, obesity begins, which can be classified into 3 levels. From a Body Mass Index < 18.5, we speak of underweight. For the classification of healthy or increased risk of disease, individual factors must always be taken into account and it is also important how comfortable you feel in your body, whether you take care of your body and your health, live consciously and eat healthily. If this is not currently the case and you have the feeling that your body needs relief or you would like to change something, then a juice cleanse can help with this change. You can find more information and recipes for a healthy diet after the juice cleanse here.

How does a BMI calculator work?

A BMI calcul ator uses the following formula to calculate your BMI:

BMI= body weight / (height in meters * height in meters)

The resulting value can then be classified using BMI tables (see BMI tables).

Which BMI applies to which age?

From the age of eight, the BMI formula can be used with the appropriate calculator. For children and teenagers up to the age of 18, you should use the BMI table for children, which also differentiates by gender. For children under the age of 8, the pediatrician has corresponding charts to classify weight and height. For adults over the age of 18, there are BMI tables that are broken down by age, also separately for men and women. Roughly speaking, the Body Mass Index for adults of 18.5-25 is classified as normal weight. Anything below this is underweight and above this is overweight and obesity with different levels.

What to do if you are overweight?

If, when calculating your BMI with the calculator, you have determined that you are classified as overweight or even obese according to the BMI tables, you could, for example, reset your diet with a {juice cleanse reset your diet in order to integrate a healthier diet afterwards. Make sure that there are colorful vegetables, a source of protein and high-quality fats on your plate at every meal. Sufficient daily exercise is important. You don't need to be a top athlete to do this, but integrating exercise into your daily routine is the first step. Also pay attention to your stress levels and get enough healthy sleep. You can find more information and recipes for a healthy diet according to the juice cleanse here.

How suitable is the BMI for classifying health risks?

The BMI provides a rough guide to weight-related health risks. However, the BMI is not reliable enough as a sole measure, as it does not take into account individual life circumstances. Just because your BMI is too high or too low, you are not automatically at risk of health problems. Nor can the BMI guarantee that people of normal weight are not exposed to health risks. Even for athletes with a very high muscle percentage and therefore a correspondingly higher weight, the BMI does not provide a reliable value, as they are quickly classified as overweight due to their heavier muscle mass. Similarly, people of normal weight with very little muscle or a light bone structure could quickly be classified as underweight, even if they are not from a medical point of view.

For these reasons, the BMI should not be overestimated, but should only be used as a guide. If you are unsure about your BMI, it is best to talk to a doctor.

However, if you have the feeling that you want to pay more attention to your diet and eat more consciously again, then a juice cleanse can help you to reset your diet and become much more aware of your natural feelings of hunger and satiety. This will make you feel fitter and more comfortable, making it much easier for you to eat healthily. For further support, you can find information and recipes here.