Everyone has an ideal body weight according to their size and shape. To determine the ideal for adults, doctors usually employ a Body Mass Index (BMI) which calculates the figure from our weight and height measurements.

The index is fat-related and, unless your hobby is body building or you compete at high level in sport, your BMI will give your doctor a good indication of your susceptibility to disease. If your muscle tissue is well developed as a result of your lifestyle, your BMI will be unnaturally high and your doctor will not be able to rely on it to determine your disease-risk factor.

The index is not suitable for pregnant or breastfeeding women and the frail or elderly.

You can check your BMI by entering your details in the boxes below and pressing the Calculate button. The result will be displayed along with a comment advising how far it is under or over your ideal figure.

We hope you find the information helpful, but do remember that you should not change your diet or take any other action as a result of this test without first consulting your health-care professional.

Enter your height and weight in the boxes below, then press the 'calculate' button to display your BMI.