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What is the body mass index (BMI)?
Body mass index assesses your body weight relative to height. It's a useful,
indirect measure of body composition because it correlates highly with body fat
in most people. Weight in kilograms is divided by height in meters squared
(kg/m2). In studies by the National Center for Health Statistics,
- BMI values less than 18.5 are considered underweight.
- BMI values from 18.5 to 24.9 are healthy.
- Overweight is defined as a body mass index of 25.0 to less than 30.0. A
BMI of about 25 kg/m2 corresponds to about 10 percent over ideal
body weight. People with BMIs in this range have an increased risk of heart
and blood vessel disease.
- Obesity is defined as a BMI of 30.0 or greater (based on NIH guidelines)
-- about 30 pounds or more overweight. People with BMIs of 30 or more
are at higher risk of cardiovascular disease.
- Extreme obesity is defined as a BMI of 40 or greater.
Some well-trained people with dense muscle mass may have a high BMI score
but very little body fat. For them the waist circumference, the skinfold or
fatfold measurements, or more direct methods of measuring body fat may be more
useful measures.
How do you find your BMI risk level?
- Use a weight scale on a hard, flat, uncarpeted surface. Wear very little
clothing and no shoes.
- Weigh yourself to the nearest pound.
- With your eyes facing forward and your heels together, stand very straight
against a wall. Your buttocks, shoulders and the back of your head should be
touching the wall.
- Mark your height at the highest point of your head. Then measure your
height in feet and inches to the nearest 1/4 inch. Also figure your height
in inches only.
- Find your height in feet and inches in the first column of the Body Mass
Index Risk Levels table. The ranges of weight that correspond to minimal
risk, moderate risk (overweight) and high risk (obese) are shown in the
three columns for each height.
| Height |
Minimal risk
(BMI under 25) |
Moderate risk
(BMI 25-29.9)
Overweight |
High risk
(BMI 30 and above)
Obese |
| 4'10" |
118 lbs. or less |
119-142 lbs. |
143 lbs. or more |
| 4'11" |
123 or less |
124-147 |
148 or more |
| 5'0 |
127 or less |
128-152 |
153 or more |
| 5'1" |
131 or less |
132-157 |
158 or more |
| 5'2' |
135 or less |
136-163 |
164 or more |
| 5'3" |
140 or less |
141-168 |
169 or more |
| 5'4" |
144 or less |
145-173 |
174 or more |
| 5'5" |
149 or less |
150-179 |
180 or more |
| 5'6" |
154 or less |
155-185 |
186 or more |
| 5'7" |
158 or less |
159-190 |
191 or more |
| 5'8" |
163 or less |
164-196 |
197 or more |
| 5'9" |
168 or less |
169-202 |
203 or more |
| 5'10" |
173 or less |
174-208 |
209 or more |
| 5'11" |
178 or less |
179-214 |
215 or more |
| 6'0" |
183 or less |
184-220 |
221 or more |
| 6'1" |
188 or less |
189-226 |
227 or more |
| 6'2" |
193 or less |
194-232 |
233 or more |
| 6'3" |
199 or less |
200-239 |
240 or more |
| 6'4" |
204 or less |
205-245 |
246 or more |
To calculate your exact BMI value, multiply your weight in pounds by 705,
divide by your height in inches, then divide again by your height in inches.
(Adapted from Obesity Education Initiative: Clinical Guidelines on the
Identification, Evaluation, and Treatment of Overweight and Obesity in Adults,
National Institutes of Health, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute,
Obesity Research 1998, 6 Suppl 2:51S-209S)
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