Top Five BMI Self-Tests
Being not just obese but even ‘simply’ overweight can trigger a wide range of health problems and exacerbate any existing ones. The most recent data readily available from the CDC is from 2012, and it points to 69.0% of US adults age 20 years and older as being overweight. [1]
Use these tools to figure out – whether for yourself or for a loved one – what changes need to be made to get yourself to a healthy weight. The sooner you get started, the more of a chance you’ll have to successfully fend off serious illness.
- National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute – Calculate Your Body Mass Index (BMI)
- CDC – BMI Calculator for Child and Teen
- WebMD Body and BMI Calculator
- BMI & Daily Needs Calculator
- Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics – BMI Calculator
1. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute – Calculate Your Body Mass Index (BMI)
http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/educational/lose_wt/BMI/bmicalc.htm
This self-test requires that you enter your height and weight in order for it to calculate your BMI. It accepts US standard and metric units, and it’s also available in Spanish so that language need not be a barrier. However, it does not factor gender, age, etc. into its BMI evaluation.
The site supplements the calculator by explaining the limitations of the BMI calculation, exploring the risks associated with various BMI values, recipes to help you take control of your BMI, and further information to help you reach and maintain a healthy BMI.
2. CDC – BMI Calculator for Child and Teen
http://nccd.cdc.gov/dnpabmi/Calculator.aspx
Children and teenages need special consideration for BMI calculation, since they’re still developing. Enter birth date, date of measurement, sex, height, and weight to receive age-appropriate insight.
3. WebMD Body and BMI Calculator
http://www.webmd.com/diet/body-bmi-calculator
This doctor-reviewed calculator additionally factors in your gender, pants size (to measure your waist), and your activity level to paint a rough picture of your health. Having a healthy BMI in conjunction with low amounts of abdominal fat and with regular exercise is more meaningful than just having a healthy BMI. In many ways, this self-test is a good evaluation of your daily habits; its output gives you recommendations for daily changes to improve your long-term health and resilience.
4. BMI & Daily Needs Calculator
http://nutritiondata.self.com/tools/calories-burned
Using sex, age, weight, height, lifestyle, and daily exercise estimates, this calculator yields your BMI as well as estimates of both calories burned as well as required nutrient intake.
5. Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics – BMI Calculator
http://www.eatright.org/bmi/
This site uses height and weight to perform a standard BMI calculation, but its greatest strength lies in the supplementary resources it provides – from a search tool to find a registered dietitian near you through resources on everything from aging, eating healthy during the holidays, sports & exercise recommendations, food safety, and even resources in both Spanish and Chinese, this is a fantastic hub that uses BMI a launchpad.