The
most common way to find out whether you're overweight or obese is to figure out
your body mass index (BMI). BMI is an estimate of body fat, and it's a good
gauge of your risk for diseases that occur with more body fat.
BMI
is calculated from your height and weight.
You can use the chart below
or click here for the National
Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute's (NHLBI's) online BMI calculator to figure out your BMI. Or, your health care provider can measure your
BMI. You can also download the BMI calculator app for iPhone app (link is external) and Android app (link is external).
Body Mass Index for Adults
Use
this table to learn your BMI.
First,
find your height
on the far left column.
Next,
move across the row to find your weight.
Weight is measured with underwear but no shoes.
Once
you've found your weight, move to the very top of that column.
This
number is your BMI.
Height
|
21
|
22
|
23
|
24
|
25
|
26
|
27
|
28
|
29
|
30
|
31
|
4'10"
|
100
|
105
|
110
|
115
|
119
|
124
|
129
|
134
|
138
|
143
|
148
|
5'0"
|
107
|
112
|
118
|
123
|
128
|
133
|
138
|
143
|
148
|
153
|
158
|
5'1"
|
111
|
116
|
122
|
127
|
132
|
137
|
143
|
148
|
153
|
158
|
164
|
5'3"
|
118
|
124
|
130
|
135
|
141
|
146
|
152
|
158
|
163
|
169
|
175
|
5'5"
|
126
|
132
|
138
|
144
|
150
|
156
|
162
|
168
|
174
|
180
|
186
|
5'7"
|
134
|
140
|
146
|
153
|
159
|
166
|
172
|
178
|
185
|
191
|
198
|
5'9"
|
142
|
149
|
155
|
162
|
169
|
176
|
182
|
189
|
196
|
203
|
209
|
5'11"
|
150
|
157
|
165
|
172
|
179
|
186
|
193
|
200
|
208
|
215
|
222
|
6'1"
|
159
|
166
|
174
|
182
|
189
|
197
|
204
|
212
|
219
|
227
|
235
|
6'3"
|
168
|
176
|
184
|
192
|
200
|
208
|
216
|
224
|
232
|
240
|
248
|
This
table offers a sample of BMI measurements.
If you don't see your height and / or weight listed on this table, go the NHLBI's complete BodyMass Index Table
If you don't see your height and / or weight listed on this table, go the NHLBI's complete BodyMass Index Table
What Does Body Mass Index Mean?
BMI
|
|
18.5–24.9
|
Normal weight
|
25.0–29.9
|
Overweight
|
30.0–39.9
|
Obese
|
40.0 and above
|
Extreme obesity
|
Although BMI can be used for most men and women, it
does have some limits. It may overestimate body fat in athletes and others who
have a muscular build.
BMI also may underestimate body fat in older people and
others who have lost muscle.
Body Mass Index for Children and Teens
Overweight and obesity are defined differently for
children and teens than for adults. Children are still growing, and boys and
girls mature at different rates.
BMIs for children and teens compare their heights and
weights against growth charts that take age and sex into account. This is called BMI-for-age percentile.
A child or
teen's BMI-for-age percentile shows how his or her BMI compares with other boys
and girls of the same age.
For more information about BMI-for-age and growth
charts for children, go to the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention's BMI-for-age calculator.
What Does the BMI-for-Age Percentile Mean?
BMI-for-Age Percentile
|
|
Less than 5th percentile
|
Underweight
|
5th percentile to less than the 85th percentile
|
Healthy weight
|
85th percentile to less than the 95th percentile
|
Risk of overweight
|
95th percentile or greater
|
Overweight
|
Waist
Circumference
Health care professionals also may take your waist
measurement. This helps screen for the possible health risks related to
overweight and obesity in adults.
If you have abdominal obesity and most of your fat is
around your waist rather than at your hips, you're at increased risk for coronary heart disease and type 2
diabetes. The risk goes up with a waist size that's greater than 35 inches for
women or greater than 40 inches for men.
You also can measure your waist size. To do so
correctly, stand and place a tape measure around your middle, just above your
hipbones. Measure your waist just after you breathe out.
Specialists Involved
A primary care doctor (or pediatrician for children
and teens) will assess your BMI, waist measurement, and overall health risk.
If you're overweight or obese, or if you have a large
waist size, your doctor should explain the health risks and find out whether
you're interested and willing to lose weight.
If you are, you and your doctor can work together to
create a treatment plan. The plan may include weight-loss goals and treatment
options that are realistic for you.
Your
doctor may send you to other health care
specialists if you need expert care.
These specialists may include:
An
endocrinologist if you need to be
treated for type 2 diabetes or a hormone problem, such as an underactive
thyroid.
A
registered dietitian or nutritionist to
work with you on ways to change your eating habits.
An
exercise physiologist or trainer to
figure out your level of fitness and show you how to do physical activities
suitable for you.
A
bariatric surgeon if weight-loss
surgery is an option for you.
A
psychiatrist, psychologist, or clinical social worker to help treat depression or stress.
This
video—presented by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, part of the
National Institutes of Health—shows that even a few extra pounds can affect
your health and life more than you may think. Average people in a park—not
actors—are asked to carry a 10-pound sandbag, and report how the added weight
affects them and their ability to carry out normal, everyday activities.
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