The Body Mass Index (BMI) is a medical screening tool that measures the relationship between your height and weight to estimate the amount of body fat you have. For most adults, a higher BMI typically means more body fat. Doctors often use BMI in combination with other indicators to gauge your overall health and risks.
BMI Ranges & Categorization
BMI Value | Weight Status |
---|---|
Below 18.5 | Underweight |
18.5 – 24.9 | Normal Weight |
25 – 29.9 | Overweight |
30 – 34.9 | Class I Obesity |
35 – 39.9 | Class II Obesity |
40 and above | Class III Obesity |
BMI Chart Overview
In the chart below, green indicates the ideal range; yellow is slightly overweight; orange and red represent different levels of obesity. The chart initially showcases heights of 63 / 67 / 71 inches (160 / 170 / 180cm) with weight in pounds (lbs). Choose your height and refer to the chart to determine your BMI.
BMI 58" (147cm) 59" (150cm) 60" (152cm) 61" (155cm) 62" (157cm) 63" (160cm) 64" (163cm) 65" (165cm) 66" (168cm) 67" (170cm) 68" (173cm) 69" (175cm) 70" (178cm) 71" (180cm) 72" (183cm) 73" (185cm) 74" (188cm) 75" (191cm) 76" (193cm) 19 91 lb 94 lb 97 lb 100 lb 104 lb 107 lb 110 lb 114 lb 118 lb 121 lb 125 lb 128 lb 132 lb 136 lb 140 lb 144 lb 148 lb 152 lb 156 lb 20 96 lb 99 lb 102 lb 106 lb 109 lb 113 lb 116 lb 120 lb 124 lb 127 lb 131 lb 135 lb 139 lb 143 lb 147 lb 151 lb 155 lb 160 lb 164 lb 21 100 lb 104 lb 107 lb 111 lb 115 lb 118 lb 122 lb 126 lb 130 lb 134 lb 138 lb 142 lb 146 lb 150 lb 154 lb 159 lb 163 lb 168 lb 172 lb 22 105 lb 109 lb 112 lb 116 lb 120 lb 124 lb 128 lb 132 lb 136 lb 140 lb 144 lb 149 lb 153 lb 157 lb 162 lb 166 lb 171 lb 176 lb 180 lb 23 110 lb 114 lb 118 lb 122 lb 126 lb 130 lb 134 lb 138 lb 142 lb 146 lb 151 lb 155 lb 160 lb 165 lb 169 lb 174 lb 179 lb 184 lb 189 lb 24 115 lb 119 lb 123 lb 127 lb 131 lb 135 lb 140 lb 144 lb 148 lb 153 lb 158 lb 162 lb 167 lb 172 lb 177 lb 182 lb 186 lb 192 lb 197 lb 25 119 lb 124 lb 128 lb 132 lb 136 lb 141 lb 145 lb 150 lb 155 lb 159 lb 164 lb 169 lb 174 lb 179 lb 184 lb 189 lb 194 lb 200 lb 205 lb 26 124 lb 128 lb 133 lb 137 lb 142 lb 146 lb 151 lb 156 lb 161 lb 166 lb 171 lb 176 lb 181 lb 186 lb 191 lb 197 lb 202 lb 208 lb 213 lb 27 129 lb 133 lb 138 lb 143 lb 147 lb 152 lb 157 lb 162 lb 167 lb 172 lb 177 lb 182 lb 188 lb 193 lb 199 lb 204 lb 210 lb 216 lb 221 lb 28 134 lb 138 lb 143 lb 148 lb 153 lb 158 lb 163 lb 168 lb 173 lb 178 lb 184 lb 189 lb 195 lb 200 lb 206 lb 212 lb 218 lb 224 lb 230 lb 29 138 lb 143 lb 148 lb 153 lb 158 lb 163 lb 169 lb 174 lb 179 lb 185 lb 190 lb 196 lb 202 lb 208 lb 213 lb 219 lb 225 lb 232 lb 238 lb 30 143 lb 148 lb 153 lb 158 lb 164 lb 169 lb 174 lb 180 lb 186 lb 191 lb 197 lb 203 lb 209 lb 215 lb 221 lb 227 lb 233 lb 240 lb 246 lb 31 148 lb 153 lb 158 lb 164 lb 169 lb 175 lb 180 lb 186 lb 192 lb 198 lb 203 lb 209 lb 216 lb 222 lb 228 lb 235 lb 241 lb 248 lb 254 lb 32 153 lb 158 lb 163 lb 169 lb 175 lb 180 lb 186 lb 192 lb 198 lb 204 lb 210 lb 216 lb 222 lb 229 lb 235 lb 242 lb 249 lb 256 lb 263 lb 33 158 lb 163 lb 168 lb 174 lb 180 lb 186 lb 192 lb 198 lb 204 lb 211 lb 216 lb 223 lb 229 lb 236 lb 242 lb 250 lb 256 lb 264 lb 271 lb 34 162 lb 168 lb 174 lb 180 lb 186 lb 191 lb 197 lb 204 lb 210 lb 217 lb 223 lb 230 lb 236 lb 243 lb 250 lb 257 lb 264 lb 272 lb 279 lb 35 167 lb 173 lb 179 lb 185 lb 191 lb 197 lb 204 lb 210 lb 216 lb 223 lb 230 lb 236 lb 243 lb 250 lb 258 lb 265 lb 272 lb 279 lb 287 lb 36 172 lb 178 lb 184 lb 190 lb 196 lb 203 lb 209 lb 216 lb 223 lb 230 lb 236 lb 243 lb 250 lb 257 lb 265 lb 272 lb 280 lb 287 lb 295 lb 37 177 lb 183 lb 189 lb 195 lb 202 lb 208 lb 215 lb 222 lb 229 lb 236 lb 243 lb 250 lb 257 lb 265 lb 272 lb 280 lb 287 lb 295 lb 304 lb 38 181 lb 188 lb 194 lb 201 lb 207 lb 214 lb 221 lb 228 lb 235 lb 242 lb 249 lb 257 lb 264 lb 272 lb 279 lb 288 lb 295 lb 303 lb 312 lb 39 186 lb 193 lb 199 lb 206 lb 213 lb 220 lb 227 lb 234 lb 241 lb 249 lb 256 lb 263 lb 271 lb 279 lb 287 lb 295 lb 303 lb 311 lb 320 lb 40 191 lb 198 lb 204 lb 211 lb 218 lb 225 lb 232 lb 240 lb 247 lb 255 lb 262 lb 270 lb 278 lb 286 lb 294 lb 302 lb 311 lb 319 lb 328 lb 41 196 lb 203 lb 209 lb 217 lb 224 lb 231 lb 238 lb 246 lb 253 lb 261 lb 269 lb 277 lb 285 lb 293 lb 302 lb 310 lb 319 lb 327 lb 336 lb 42 201 lb 208 lb 215 lb 222 lb 229 lb 237 lb 244 lb 252 lb 260 lb 268 lb 276 lb 284 lb 292 lb 301 lb 309 lb 318 lb 326 lb 335 lb 344 lb 43 205 lb 212 lb 220 lb 227 lb 235 lb 242 lb 250 lb 258 lb 266 lb 274 lb 282 lb 291 lb 299 lb 308 lb 316 lb 325 lb 334 lb 343 lb 353 lb 44 210 lb 217 lb 225 lb 232 lb 240 lb 248 lb 256 lb 264 lb 272 lb 280 lb 289 lb 297 lb 306 lb 315 lb 324 lb 333 lb 342 lb 351 lb 361 lb 45 215 lb 222 lb 230 lb 238 lb 246 lb 254 lb 262 lb 270 lb 278 lb 287 lb 295 lb 304 lb 313 lb 322 lb 331 lb 340 lb 350 lb 359 lb 369 lb 46 220 lb 227 lb 235 lb 243 lb 251 lb 259 lb 267 lb 276 lb 284 lb 293 lb 302 lb 311 lb 320 lb 329 lb 338 lb 348 lb 358 lb 367 lb 377 lb 47 224 lb 232 lb 240 lb 248 lb 256 lb 265 lb 273 lb 282 lb 291 lb 299 lb 308 lb 318 lb 327 lb 338 lb 346 lb 355 lb 365 lb 375 lb 385 lb 48 229 lb 237 lb 245 lb 254 lb 262 lb 270 lb 279 lb 288 lb 297 lb 306 lb 315 lb 324 lb 334 lb 343 lb 353 lb 363 lb 373 lb 383 lb 394 lb 49 234 lb 242 lb 250 lb 259 lb 267 lb 278 lb 285 lb 294 lb 303 lb 312 lb 322 lb 331 lb 341 lb 351 lb 361 lb 371 lb 381 lb 391 lb 402 lb 50 239 lb 247 lb 255 lb 264 lb 273 lb 282 lb 291 lb 300 lb 309 lb 319 lb 328 lb 338 lb 348 lb 358 lb 368 lb 378 lb 389 lb 399 lb 410 lb 51 244 lb 252 lb 261 lb 269 lb 278 lb 287 lb 296 lb 306 lb 315 lb 325 lb 335 lb 345 lb 355 lb 365 lb 375 lb 386 lb 396 lb 407 lb 418 lb 52 248 lb 257 lb 266 lb 275 lb 284 lb 293 lb 302 lb 312 lb 322 lb 331 lb 341 lb 351 lb 362 lb 372 lb 383 lb 393 lb 404 lb 415 lb 426 lb 53 253 lb 262 lb 271 lb 280 lb 289 lb 299 lb 308 lb 318 lb 328 lb 338 lb 348 lb 358 lb 369 lb 379 lb 390 lb 401 lb 412 lb 423 lb 435 lb 54 258 lb 267 lb 276 lb 285 lb 295 lb 304 lb 314 lb 324 lb 334 lb 344 lb 354 lb 365 lb 376 lb 386 lb 397 lb 408 lb 420 lb 431 lb 443 lb
Risks of Having Too High or Too Low BMI
A moderate amount of body fat helps with the absorption of vitamins and minerals. It also provides an energy source for your body, helps to regulate body temperature, and protects your organs.
- A high BMI might increase your risk of certain diseases including heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, gallstones, osteoarthritis, sleep apnea, depression, other mental health conditions, and certain cancers like colon, breast, endometrial, and gallbladder.
- A low BMI could be linked to malnutrition and could increase risks of anemia, weakened immune system, osteoporosis, infertility, and more.
The standard BMI chart provided here is for adults only. It shouldn’t be used for children or teenagers. For weight recommendations based on your child’s age and height, it’s best to consult with their pediatrician.
How to Calculate Your BMI
You can determine your BMI by following these steps:
- Multiply your weight (in pounds) by 703
- Divide the result by your height (in inches)
- Divide that answer again by your height (in inches)
For instance, if someone is 65 inches tall (5 feet 5 inches) and weighs 180 pounds, the calculation would show their BMI as 29.95, which falls slightly into the overweight category:
- 180 x 703 = 126,540
- 126,540 ÷ 65 = 1,946.769
- 1,946.769 ÷ 65 = 29.95
Limitations of the BMI Index
While body fat and BMI are indicators, they aren’t the only factors in determining health. Various elements, like genetics, activity levels, smoking, alcohol consumption, and mental health, can affect your overall well-being and susceptibility to certain diseases. Don’t solely focus on your BMI.
Furthermore, BMI doesn’t distinguish between lean mass (everything in the body besides fat) and fat mass. For example, a bodybuilder might have a high BMI due to muscle mass, but low body fat.
Typically, the BMI is applicable to most adult men and women but shouldn’t be used for:
- Athletes and bodybuilders
- Children and teens
- Pregnant individuals
- People over 65
- Those experiencing muscle loss or thinness due to health conditions
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