Adult BMI standard
|
Adult BMI metric
|
BMI for kids
|
BMI Formula
Calculate your Body Mass Index
Your Height
(feet)
(inches)
Your Weight
(pounds)
Show classification
Classification
BMI(kg/m
2
)
Principal cut-off points
Additional cut-off points
Underweight
<18.50
<18.50
Severe thinness
<16.00
<16.00
Moderate thinness
16.00 - 16.99
16.00 - 16.99
Mild thinness
17.00 - 18.49
17.00 - 18.49
Normal range
18.50 - 24.99
18.50 - 22.99
23.00 - 24.99
Overweight
≥25.00
≥25.00
Pre-obese
25.00 - 29.99
25.00 - 27.49
27.50 - 29.99
Obese
≥30.00
≥30.00
Obese class I
30.00 - 34.99
30.00 - 32.49
32.50 - 34.99
Obese class II
35.00 - 39.99
35.00 - 37.49
37.50 - 39.99
Obese class III
≥40.00
≥40.00
Source: Adapted from WHO, 1995, WHO, 2000 and WHO 2004.
What is BMI?
The body mass index (BMI) or Quetelet Index is a measure for assessing weight relative to body size of a person.
BMI is a fairly reliable indicator of body fatness for most people.
It was developed by Adolphe Quetelet in 1871.
Obesity is a growing problem worldwide and BMI is primarily used as a reference to this danger.
BMI refers to the ratio of weight relative to body surface, estimated from the square of height.
BMI is only a rough estimate because it does not take into account the proportion of adipose tissue and muscle.