How to Calculate Your BMI Using the Metric Scale

BMI stands for body mass index, a quick formula used to check for potential obesity. BMI finds wide usage because of the ease of calculation. According to the Center for Disease Control, the same formula is used for both men and women. The "normal" BMI range goes from 18.5 to 24.9, with BMIs higher than 24.9 representing overweight individuals. However, not everyone with a high BMI is overweight. Often athletes have a higher BMI because of their significantly greater muscle mass.

Things You'll Need

• Measuring tape
• Calculator
• Scale

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Instructions

• 1

  Measure your height in meters, using a tape measure, and your weight in kilograms, using a scale.

• 2

  Divide your weight in kilograms by your height in meters. For example, if you weigh 70 kilograms and are 1.68 meters tall, you would divide 70 by 1.68 to get 41.67.

• 3

  Divide the result from Step 2 by your height in meters to find your BMI. Finishing the example, you would divide 41.67 by 1.68 to get a BMI of 24.8.