One of the best ways to determine overall health risk is to determine a person's body mass index, or BMI. It gives health care experts a way to use the simple measures of height and weight to understand how excess body weight affects health.

BMI is determined by a person's weight divided by the square of his or her height. Health care professionals measure weight in kilograms and height in meters. The equation for BMI is given as wt/ht² or kg/m².

According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a healthy BMI for adults is between 18.5 and 24.9. BMI ranges are based on the effect body weight has on the risk of getting certain diseases, such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease, cancer, high blood pressure, and osteoarthritis. People with a BMI of 25 to 29.9 have a higher risk of these diseases. For people with a BMI of 30 or higher, the risk is even greater.

To calculate your BMI, please use the BMI Calculator tool on this page.