Using the BMI Calculator Tool

NOTE: Calculator may take a minute to load
Amputee Coalition has created this tool to help individuals with limb loss assess their weight status by calculating their body mass index. Body mass index (BMI) measures body fat based on height and weight. It should be noted it is not a medical diagnostic tool but if you find your BMI to be in the overweight or obese category talk to your doctor about steps you can take to lead a healthier life. Always consult your physician first before starting a diet or exercise program.

• Enter your height and weight using standard or metric measures.
• Weight must be taken without the use of prosthesis, walker or wheelchair.
• When determining height, if you are a bilateral lower-limb amputee, use pre-amputation height.
• Select your level of amputation.
• Click the "Calculate" button and your BMI will be generated.

Limitations

Although BMI can be used to assess the weight status of most men and women, it does have some limits. These include, but are not limited to:

• May overestimate body fat in athletes and others who have a muscular build
• May underestimate body fat in seniors and others who have lost muscle mass

Using BMI to assess the weight status of persons with limb loss has some additional limitations.

• Appropriate tools to accurately assess weight in individuals with limb loss are not widely available. For example, many primary care offices do not possess a scale capable of weighing a person who uses a wheelchair. Using inappropriate equipment may lead to an inaccurate weight measurement.
• Methods for assessing weight in individuals with limb loss are inconsistent. We recommend that you enter your body weight without your prosthesis or other assistive devices In order to obtain this measurement, a variety of methods are used which may produce inconsistencies in determining the weight of a person with limb loss.
• Accuracy of evaluating height in individuals with bilateral lower-limb amputations and congenital limb difference. A person's height is an important part of calculating their BMI. Accurately assessing height may be difficult for individuals with bilateral lower-limb amputation or who have a congenital limb difference.

* This tool has not been validated; it is simply an estimation for amputees.