About the Calculadora de IMC
Body Mass Index (BMI) is an internationally recognized screening metric used by physicians and healthcare organizations, including the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). It assesses whether an adult is underweight, healthy weight, overweight, or obese based on tissue mass (muscle, fat, and bone) and height.
How to Use This Calculator
- 1Enter your standing height in centimeters (cm). For quick conversion: 5 ft 7 in is ~170 cm; 5 ft 10 in is ~178 cm; 6 ft is ~183 cm.
- 2Enter your current body weight in kilograms (kg). To convert from pounds: divide lbs by 2.2046.
- 3Your exact BMI index and customized healthy weight threshold bounds (BMI 18.5 to 24.9) update instantaneously.
Formula & Calculation Methodology
Body Mass Index is calculated by dividing body weight in kilograms by the square of height in meters.
Worked Example: BMI Calculation for a 175 cm Adult Weighing 70 kg
Scenario: An individual measures 175 cm in height and weighs 70 kg. They want to check their BMI classification and healthy weight boundaries.
Convert height from centimeters to meters: 175 ÷ 100
1.75 meters
Square the height in meters: 1.75 × 1.75
3.0625 m²
Divide weight by squared height: 70 ÷ 3.0625
22.86 kg/m²
Conclusion: A BMI of 22.9 falls solidly in the "Normal / Healthy Weight" classification (18.5 to 24.9). For this height, the healthy weight range is between 56.7 kg and 76.3 kg.
Assumptions & Practical Limitations
- BMI is a population-level screening tool and does not directly measure body fat percentage.
- Muscular athletes and bodybuilders may have high BMIs despite having low body fat, as muscle tissue is denser than fat tissue.
- Elderly individuals who have experienced age-related muscle loss (sarcopenia) may fall in the "normal" range despite elevated visceral fat.
- For pregnant women and children under age 18, standardized pediatric growth charts and medical consultation must be used instead.
Frequently Asked Questions
According to the World Health Organization: Underweight is below 18.5; Normal weight is 18.5 to 24.9; Overweight is 25.0 to 29.9; Obese Class I is 30.0 to 34.9; Obese Class II is 35.0 to 39.9; and Obese Class III is 40.0 or greater.