Normal Weight Ranges: Body Mass Index (BMI) (2024)

FAQs

What is the normal range for body mass BMI? ›

BMI ranges

below 18.5 – you're in the underweight range. between 18.5 and 24.9 – you're in the healthy weight range. between 25 and 29.9 – you're in the overweight range. between 30 and 39.9 – you're in the obese range.

Doctors recommend most adults keep their BMI between 18 and 24.9. Adults with a BMI over 25 are considered obese. On the other hand, older adults do better if they have a BMI between 25 and 27. Research shows that adults over 65 who are underweight experience more health issues and shorter life expectancy.

A BMI of 18.5–24.9 is considered normal or healthy for most women.

December 01, 2022 Body Mass Index (BMI) Calculator

Body Mass Index is a simple calculation using a person's height and weight. The formula is BMI = kg/m² where kg is a person's weight in kilograms and m² is their height in metres squared. A BMI of 25.0 or more is overweight, while the healthy range is 18.5 to 24.9.

To use the table, find the appropriate height in the left-hand column labeled Height. Move across to a given weight (in pounds). The number at the top of the column is the BMI at that height and weight.

BMI changes substantially with age. After about 1 year of age, BMI-for-age begins to decline and it continues falling during the preschool years until it reaches a minimum around 4 to 6 years of age. After 4 to 6 years of age, BMI-for-age begins a gradual increase through adolescence and most of adulthood.

How much should a 60 year old woman weigh? ›

Health experts say a number between 18.5 to 24.9 is a healthy BMI for men and people AMAB. The same goes for women and people AFAB. Check your weight classification in the BMI chart below.

Your BMI is a measurement that is a ratio of your weight and height. It's a good way to gauge whether your weight is in healthy proportion to your height. In fact, knowing your BMI can help you – and your GP – determine any health risks you may face if it's outside of the healthy range.

It is normally measured with skinfold calipers, bioelectrical impedance, or most accurately through a DXA X-ray Scan. One of the main issues with BMI is that it cannot account for the difference between muscle and fat.

Calculating BMI, or body mass index, is another way to help determine ideal body weights in women over age 60. Desirable, healthy BMIs are 18.5 to 24.9, according to the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute.

As we get older, our bodies don't respond the same way to weight loss efforts, and science has some explanations to offer. As we age we naturally tend to gain weight, to the tune of 1 to 2 pounds (lb) per year, according to a review by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.

As you age, your muscle mass decreases and your fat mass increases. Fat is less metabolically active than muscle—you don't need as many calories to maintain fat as you do to maintain muscle. Hormonal changes can also lead to weight gain.

How do you calculate weight for age chart? ›

Find the child's age on the horizontal axis. When plotting weight-for-length, find the length on the horizontal axis. Use a straight edge or right-angle ruler to draw a vertical line up from that point. Find the appropriate measurement (weight, length, stature, or BMI) on the vertical axis.

Ideal Body Weight Calculation

Women: 100 pounds of body weight for the first 5 feet of height, 5 pounds for each additional inch. Men: 106 pounds of body weight for the first 5 feet of height, 6 pounds for each additional inch. Add 10% for a large frame size, and subtract 10% for a small frame size.

Normal weight at 118 to 159 pounds (BMI = 18.5-24.9) Overweight at 160 to 191 pounds (BMI = 25-29.9) Obese at 192 pounds or more (BMI = 30+)

Older people.

In older adults it is often better to have a BMI between 25 and 27, rather than under 25. If you are older than 65, for example, a slightly higher BMI may help protect you from thinning of the bones (osteoporosis).

The average American woman 20 years old and up weighs 170.6 pounds and stands at 63.7 inches (almost 5 feet, 4 inches) tall. And the average waist circumference? It's 38.6 inches. These numbers may or may not be surprising to you.

The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute indicates that a healthy weight for a woman who is 5 feet, 4 inches tall ranges from 110 to 140 pounds with a BMI of 19 to 24. A woman whose BMI score is above 25 falls in the overweight category and 30 and above falls in the obesity category.

Adult Body Mass Index (BMI)

The four main categories are: Underweight, Normal Weight, Overweight, and Obesity. BMI, however, does not take in consideration age, gender, nor is it a completely accurate measurement for persons with extraordinarily high or low levels of lean muscle mass.

BMI is an inexpensive and easy screening method for weight category—underweight, healthy weight, overweight, and obesity.

What are the 4 factors affecting BMI? ›

Factors such as age, sex, ethnicity, and muscle mass can influence the relationship between BMI and body fat.

When calculating your BMI, you'll need your weight in kilograms and your height in meters. So, to enter this on a normal calculator, follow these steps: Height x height = height squared. Kilograms ÷ height squared = BMI.

Staying hydrated and eat a balanced diet are equally important. If your BMI isn't where it should be, you may want to reduce your caloric intake and increase your exercise.

BMI is an estimate of body fat and a good gauge of your risk for diseases that can occur with more body fat. The higher your BMI, the higher your risk for certain diseases such as heart disease, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, gallstones, breathing problems, and certain cancers.

Men tend to gain weight until age 55, and then slowly start to lose it in the years that follow. This could be because men produce less testosterone after this age. Women, on the other hand, usually stop gaining weight once they hit age 65.

Calorie balance is the most important element in weight loss. As the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention puts it: “If you are gaining weight, you are eating more calories than your body is using.” Calories play a big role in controlling your weight.

Older adults tend to lose muscle and bone, so more of their body weight is likely to come from fat. Younger people and athletes may weigh more due to strong muscles and denser bones. These realities can skew your BMI number and make it less accurate for predicting exact body fat levels.

BMI (body mass index), which is based on the height and weight of a person, is an inaccurate measure of body fat content and does not take into account muscle mass, bone density, overall body composition, and racial and sex differences, say researchers from the Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania.