Body Mass Index (BMI) is a number calculated from a person's weight and height. BMI does not measure body fat directly, but research has shown that BMI correlates to direct measures of body fat, such as underwater weighing and dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA).1, 2 BMI can be considered an alternative for direct measures of body fat. How is BMI used? BMI is used as a screening tool to identify possible weight problems for adults. How is BMI calculated and interpreted? Formula: weight (kg) / [height x height] With the metric system, the formula for BMI is weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared