These charts are used to translate a BMI number into a percentile based on a child’s sex and age. To account for this, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has developed age- and sex-specific growth charts.

So for kids, BMI levels that define being normal weight or overweight are based on the child’s age and sex. This is because the normal amount of body fat changes with age in children and teens, and is different between boys and girls. BMI in children and teensīMI can be calculated the same way for children and teens as it is for adults, but the numbers don’t have the same meaning. A person with a high BMI should be evaluated by a health care provider, who might use other factors such as skinfold thickness (a measure of body fat), waist size, evaluations of diet and family health problems, and other factors to find out if a person’s weight might pose a health risk. There are other things to think about when judging how much someone should weigh. But it’s not always the final word in deciding if a person is overweight or obese. The BMI can also underestimate body fat in people who have lost muscle mass, such as some older people.įor most adults, the BMI is a good way to get an idea of healthy weight ranges. For example, bodybuilders or other very muscular people can have a high BMI because of their muscle mass, even though they’re not necessarily overweight. BMI gives a good estimate of total body fat for most people, but it doesn’t work well for everybody. Are there any issues with using BMI?ĭoctors and nurses often use BMI to help find out if a person might have a weight problem.

This is well within the healthy weight range. Divide that by your height in inches, squared:īMI = (your weight in pounds x 703) ÷ (your height in inches x your height in inches)įor example, if you weigh 120 pounds and are 5 ft. When using pounds and inches, the formula needs to be altered slightly. The actual formula to determine BMI uses metric system measurements: weight in kilograms (kg) divided by height in meters, squared (m 2). tall is considered overweight (BMI is 25 to 29) if he weighs between about 174 and 202 pounds, and is obese (BMI is 30 or more) if he is closer to 209 pounds or more. She is considered obese (BMI is 30 or more) if she is closer to 174 pounds or more.Ī man who is 5 ft. tall is considered overweight (BMI is 25 to 29) if she weighs between about 145 and 169 pounds. This table shows us that a woman who is 5 ft.

At the top of the chart you can see your BMI, and at the bottom of the chart you can see which category you fit into – healthy weight, overweight, or obese: To use the table below, find your height on the left side of the chart, then go across to the weight that is closest to yours.

There are also several online BMI calculators, such as this one on our website. Charts and online calculatorsĬharts and tables, such as the one below, are one easy way to figure out your BMI. BMI is often used as a screening tool to decide if your weight might be putting you at risk for health problems such as heart disease, diabetes, and cancer.īMI is used to broadly define different weight groups in adults 20 years old or older. In general, the higher the number, the more body fat a person has. BMI is a number based on your weight and height. Body mass index, or BMI, is a way to help you figure out if you are at a healthy weight for your height.

Diabetes infographic on men graph