Go to home page
Skip to Navigation
Skip to Content
Logo - Australian Government - Department of Health Logo - Australian Government - Department of Health
Logo - Healthy Weight Guide Logo - Healthy Weight Guide
Search the Healthy Weight Website
  • Home
  • Footer
  • Home
  • Get started currently selected
    • Before you start
    • Are you a healthy weight?
    • Planning for change
  • Set goals
    • Setting goals
    • Defining your goals
    • Tips for setting goals
    • Setting a goal weight
  • Get active
    • Establishing physical activity habits
    • Building more movement into your day
    • Planning physical activity
    • Finding local activities
  • Eat well
    • Establishing healthy eating habits
    • Healthy recipes
    • Healthy cooking
    • Healthy shopping
    • Healthy pantry list
    • Reading food labels
    • Healthy meal sizes
    • Meal time habits
    • Healthy eating out
    • Limiting take away food
    • Healthy snacks
    • How much should you eat?
  • Keep in check
    • Monitoring what you do
    • Managing the challenges
    • Healthy habits
  • Get informed
    • Why are so many people not a healthy weight?
    • Stages of change
    • Enjoy a wide variety of nutritious foods
    • Have less unhealthy foods and drinks
    • Physical activity and sedentary behaviour
    • Weight loss methods
  • Helping hand
    • Getting support
    • Different needs
    • Tools
    • Links
    • Frequently asked questions
    • Reference material
    • About the Healthy Weight Guide
  • Login or Register
Z6_L8ECHJ41IG3P00IFCTOUVB2GJ1
{}
Z7_L8ECHJ41IG3P00IFCTOUVB2GB2

Web Content Viewer (JSR 286) - Healthy Weight

Actions
  • ${title}
Loading...

How do you measure your BMI?

  • Home>
  • Get started>
  • Are you a healthy weight?>
  • How do you measure your BMI?
  • In this section
  • Before you start
  • Are you a healthy weight?
    • Why is a healthy weight important?
    • The benefits of losing weight
    • Body mass index (BMI)
    • How do you measure your BMI?
    • BMI calculator
    • Waist circumference
    • How do you measure your waist circumference?
  • Planning for change

Legs on bathroom scales with measuring tapeBody mass index (BMI) is a weight-for-height index that is commonly used to classify underweight, healthy weight, overweight and obesity in adults.

To achieve and maintain a healthy weight it helps to know what your BMI is and what it means.  There are three steps to working out your BMI.

 

1. Measure your weight

  • Use scales, making sure they’re on a hard, level surface.
  • Try to use the same scales each time, as different scales may measure differently.
  • Before weighing yourself, take off your coat, jacket, shoes and other heavy clothing.
  • Stand on the centre of the scales with your weight distributed evenly between your feet.
  • Record your weight in kilograms.

2. Measure your height

  • Use a tape measure that’s taped to a hard, straight wall, with the base at floor level.
  • Take off your coat, jacket, shoes and other bulky clothing, as well as any hair ornaments or hats.
  • Stand with your feet together and your back to the wall so your head, back, buttocks, calves and heels are all touching the wall.
  • Have somebody else record your height by placing a flat ruler parallel to the top of your head and noting the height in centimetres.

3. Calculate your BMI

Calculate your BMI by using the Healthy Weight Guide BMI calculator. Make sure you record your BMI so you can keep an eye on how you’re going.

If you are registered with the Healthy Weight Guide website, it can keep track of your BMI for you. 

 

Registering gives you access to tools that will help you to...

Plan

Record your goals and plans

Track

Monitor your progress

Achieve

Celebrate your achievements

View Demo Register Now

Tools

  • BMI Calculator
  • Quizzes
  • Goal setting form
  • Meal and physical activity planners
  • Finding local activities
  • Print resources

Links

  • Commonwealth Government links
  • State and Territory links
  • Non-government organisation links
  • More links

Frequently asked questions

About the Healthy Weight Guide

  • What is the Healthy Weight Guide?
  • Who is the Healthy Weight Guide for?
  • How do you use the Healthy Weight Guide?
  • How was the Healthy Weight Guide developed?
  • Terms and conditions
  • Copyright
  • Privacy & Security
  • Accessibility
  • Contact us
${nls.Theme:theme_complementary_content:xml}