Height and BMI

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TheVirgoddess
TheVirgoddess Posts: 4,535 Member
in Getting Started
When you're figuring your BMI, do you use your exact height, or estimate?

I'm 5'4.5" - I always use 5'4" when assessing my BMI. I was just wondering how it's usually (or supposed to be) done.

I know that a few pounds either way, and my BMI aren't big deals in the grand scheme of weight loss and fitness, and won't make or break my success. I'm just curious.

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  • habit365
    habit365 Posts: 174
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    If the particular BMI calculator I am using that day lets me enter the weight to the 1/2 inch, I do so (some do, some don't). I am shooting for the middle of the range, so it doesn't really matter (however, I'm short so just on principle I take that 1/2 inch whenever I can!)
  • shadow2soul
    shadow2soul Posts: 7,692 Member
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    TheVirgoddess wrote: »
    When you're figuring your BMI, do you use your exact height, or estimate?

    I'm 5'4.5" - I always use 5'4" when assessing my BMI. I was just wondering how it's usually (or supposed to be) done.

    I know that a few pounds either way, and my BMI aren't big deals in the grand scheme of weight loss and fitness, and won't make or break my success. I'm just curious.

    I use my exact height. I'm not sure it really matters.

  • Lasmartchika
    Lasmartchika Posts: 3,440 Member
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    I'm 5'2.75"... I just use 5'3". :)
  • supermysza
    supermysza Posts: 167 Member
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    Use a metric scale ;)
  • hazleyes81
    hazleyes81 Posts: 296 Member
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    supermysza wrote: »
    Use a metric scale ;)
    That actually makes sense. I type in 5 3.75 but 162 cm would be simpler.

  • TheVirgoddess
    TheVirgoddess Posts: 4,535 Member
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    supermysza wrote: »
    Use a metric scale ;)

    Brilliant.

    Thanks all :)
  • segacs
    segacs Posts: 4,599 Member
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    BMI is just an estimate anyway. Try to be accurate, but don't put undue weight (pun intended) in it.
  • lynn_glenmont
    lynn_glenmont Posts: 9,988 Member
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    Well, I just figure it myself rather than using an online calculator (weight in pounds/height in inches squared X 703). My height hasn't changed while I've been doing this, so I have the figure for the square of my height in inches memorized. My height is an even number, but if it weren't, I would use the fraction. I use half pounds for the weight.

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