Body Mass Index (BMI)

Result:

Interpretation

  • Body mass index (BMI)
    • Measure of body fat in adults, based on height and weight
    • The higher the BMI, the higher the risk for certain diseases such as heart disease, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, gallstones, and certain cancers[1]
    • For children and teenagers, please refer to age-specific charts at the US Centers for Disease Control
  • BMI Interpretation:
Adult BMICategory
< 18.5Underweight
18.5 – 24.9Normal
25.0 – 29.9Overweight
30.0 – 39.9Obese
≥ 40Morbidly Obese
  • BMI Limitations
    • May overestimate body fat in athletes and others who have a muscular build.
    • May underestimate body fat in older persons and others who have lost muscle.

Formula

Adult BMI = (Weight × w) / (Height × h)2

w: weight multiplier
kilograms1
grams0.001
pounds0.453592
ounces0.02835
h: height multiplier
meters1
centimeters0.01
inches0.0254
feet0.3048

References

  1. Clinical Guidelines on the Identification, Evaluation, and Treatment of Overweight and Obesity in Adults--The Evidence Report. National Institutes of Health. Obes Res 6 Suppl 2:51S, 1998  [PMID:9813653]
  2. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS). National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey Data. Hyattsville, MD: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2011-12: http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nhanes/nhanes_questionnaires.htm