Any athlete can tell you that your body mass index (BMI) is a measure of your physical condition and provides a basic starting point. But how do you calculate your BMI? And how important is it for strength athletes and bodybuilders who train hard?
WHAT DOES YOUR BMI TELL YOU?
The BMI Calculator produces a value that allows you to classify your body weight on a scale from severely underweight to obese.
Your body mass index places your weight in relation to your size and puts you into one of the categories defined by the World Health Organization (WHO). Your BMI is therefore an indicator of whether you need to lose or gain weight (depending on your training goal).
HOW THE BMI CALCULATOR WORKS
The BMI formula is quite simple: BMI = your weight in kg ÷ (your height in m)². So, a man who is 1.75m tall and weighs 75kg would have a BMI of 24.5.
Based on the WHO criteria, he would have a normal BMI. Once you’ve calculated your BMI, you can determine whether you’re underweight and therefore need to gain some weight to reach a healthier BMI, or whether it would be sensible to adopt a low-calorie diet with an exercise routine to match to drop a few pounds.
BMI
Category
Body weight
< 16
Severe underweight
Underweight
16 - < 17
Moderate underweight
Underweight
17 - < 18,5
Slight underweight
Underweight
18,5 - < 25
Slight underweight
Normal weight
25 - < 30
Preadiposity
Overweight
30 - < 35
Adipositas Grad I
Adipositas
35 - < 40
Adipositas Grad II
Adipositas
> 40
Adipositas Grad III
Adipositas
THE SIGNIFICANCE OF BMI VALUES
Of course, the BMI Calculator can only give you a rough picture, as it can’t differentiate between fat mass and highly active muscle mass.
This means that power athletes – who have an extremely low body fat percentage (BFP) and “heavy”, well developed musculature – may have a far higher BMI than people who are physically far less in shape.
However, although the BMI Calculator cannot tell you absolutely everything about your body, it’s still a very handy way for beginners to get an insight into their initial physical condition. Above all, your BMI is a useful way to define your personal goals and set key milestones. Find the ideal nutrition to support your body and your workouts:
