You can use this calculator to check your body mass index (BMI) and find out if you're a healthy weight.
The BMI calculator is designed to give an initial indication of what a healthy weight looks like for adults taking into account their age, height, and gender.
It can be used to:
Check the BMI of an adult aged 18 and over
Get information about what to do next
It should not be used to diagnose any symptoms. If you are concerned about your weight, contact your local pharmacist or GP surgery.
The BMI calculator isn't suitable for:
anyone under 18 years old
anyone who is pregnant
anyone living with a diagnosed, or suspected eating disorder
anyone living with a condition that affects their height
You'll need to add your:
height (can be in cm or ft)
weight (can be in kg or st)
You'll also need to include your age, gender, and activity level.
This is an optional field, and enables the tool to offer you tailored information about your BMI result based on your ethnic background.
Research shows that people from an Asian, Black African, African-Caribbean or Middle Eastern ethnic background are at increased risk of developing weight-related health conditions at a lower BMI.
Your body mass index (BMI) calculation will fall into a range categorised in one of the following four categories:
underweight
a healthy weight
overweight
obese
Depending on your result, you may be advised to take a waist measurement next. This can help you understand if you are carrying too much weight around your tummy. If your waist measurement is over the healthy range, it can mean you have a higher chance of developing a weight-related health condition.
If you're concerned about your waist measurement result, speak to your pharmacist or GP.
If your BMI is in the overweight or obese range, it could mean you're at increased risk of developing long-term health conditions, such as type 2 diabetes and heart disease.
It's important to remember that the BMI calculation is just an indicator, and not a conclusive result of what your weight means for your health. A BMI tool cannot differentiate between fat and muscle for example, so if you have a lot of muscle, you may be classed as overweight or obese despite having low body fat.
This is why it's important to look at other indicators too, such as your waist measurement.
If you're unsure of your result and what it may mean for your health, talk to your pharmacist or GP.