George P. Pettit, M.D., Inc. of Portsmouth, Ohio

BMI (Body Mass Index) uses your height and weight values to determine whether you are at risk for weight-related health problems. The lower your BMI, the lower your risk for health problems.¹

To use the calculator below, enter your height in inches, enter your weight in pounds, then click the "Calculate BMI" button to see your results. (Please note that your browser must be Java Script enabled to use the calculator)

1. Enter your height in inches:
(for example: 5' 10-1/2" = 70.5)

2. Enter your weight in pounds then press the Calculate BMI button:

Your BMI is:

Note: BMI is a simple estimation used to detect general obesity - individuals who have achieved a large amount of muscle mass may get skewed results. In these cases, body fat percentage is a better method for estimating ideal weight.

BMI compares well to body fat but cannot be interpreted as a certain percentage of body fat. The relation between fatness and BMI is influenced by age and gender. For example, women are more likely to have a higher percent of body fat than men for the same BMI. At the same BMI, older people have more body fat than younger adults.²

BMI is used to screen and monitor a population to detect risk of health or nutritional disorders. In an individual, other data must be used to determine if a high BMI is associated with increased risk of disease and death for that person. BMI alone is not diagnostic. ³

How does BMI relate to health among adults?

A healthy BMI for adults is between 18.5 and 24.9. BMI ranges are based on the effect body weight has on disease and death. ⁴

A high BMI is predictive of death from cardiovascular disease. Diabetes, cancer, high blood pressure and osteoarthritis are also common consequences of overweight and obesity in adults. Obesity itself is a strong risk factor for premature death. ⁵

BMI Cutpoints for Adults

We interpret BMI values for adults with one fixed number, regardless of age or sex, using the following guidelines:

Underweight BMI less than 18.5

Overweight BMI of 25.0 to 29.9

Obese BMI of 30.0 or more

For more information about overweight among adults, see: Clinical Guidelines on the Identification, Evaluation, and Treatment of Overweight and Obesity in Adults. Bethesda, Md: NHLBI, 1998.

References

1. Garrow JS and Webster J. Quetelet�s index (W/H²) as a measure of fatness. International Journal of Obesity 1985;9:147-153.

2. Gallagher D, et al. How useful is BMI for comparison of body fatness across age, sex and ethnic groups? American Journal of Epidemiology 1996;143:228-239.
3. Willett W, et al. Guidelines for healthy weight. New England Journal of Medicine 1999;341:427-434.
4. World Health Organization. Physical status: The use and interpretation of anthropometry. Geneva, Switzerland: World Health Organization 1995. WHO Technical Report Series.
5. Calle EE, et al. BMI and mortality in a prospective cohort of U.S. adults. New England Journal of Medicine 1999;341:1097-1105.