The Body Mass Index and Your Health

In the 1830s, Belgian statistician Adolphe Quetelet set out to quantify the average man. One result of his endeavors became known as the body mass index or the average weight of a human for their height. Since his definition, the body mass index(or BMI) has scarcely changed, and being too far above or below the average is considered a basic measure of poor health.

The BMI varies by gender and bone size, however, the graph below can help you quickly guage your BMI and if you have a healthy weight.


To use the graph, find your weight in pounds on the bottom and follow the line up to your height. Where the two intersect is your BMI.

To get a more exact number you can use the BMI calculator, or you can use this table:

BMI (kg/m(2))	19	20	21	22	23	24	25	26	27	28	29	30	35	40
Height (in.)	Weight (lb.)
58	91	96	100	105	110	115	119	124	129	134	138	143	167	191
59	94	99	104	109	114	119	124	128	133	138	143	148	173	198
60	97	102	107	112	118	123	128	133	138	143	148	153	179	204
61	100	106	111	116	122	127	132	137	143	148	153	158	185	211
62	104	109	115	120	126	131	136	142	147	153	158	164	191	218
63	107	113	118	124	130	135	141	146	152	158	163	169	197	225
64	110	116	122	128	134	140	145	151	157	163	169	174	204	232
65	114	120	126	132	138	144	150	156	162	168	174	180	210	240
66	118	124	130	136	142	148	155	161	167	173	179	186	216	247
67	121	127	134	140	146	153	159	166	172	178	185	191	223	255
68	125	131	138	144	151	158	164	171	177	184	190	197	230	262
69	128	135	142	149	155	162	169	176	182	189	196	203	236	270
70	132	139	146	153	160	167	174	181	188	195	202	207	243	278
71	136	143	150	157	165	172	179	186	193	200	208	215	250	286
72	140	147	154	162	169	177	184	191	199	206	213	221	258	294
73	144	151	159	166	174	182	189	197	204	212	219	227	265	302
74	148	155	163	171	179	186	194	202	210	218	225	233	272	311
75	152	160	168	176	184	192	200	208	216	224	232	240	279	319
76	156	164	172	180	189	197	205	213	221	230	238	246	287	328

• A BMI below 18 is underweight.
• A BMI from 18 up to 25 refers to a healthy weight.
• A BMI from 25 up to 30 is overweight.
• A BMI 30 or higher is obesity.

The goal is to try maintain a BMI that puts you in a healthy weight, or that is to say, a BMI of 18-25.(2)

Body fat, waist size, muscle mass, and the BMI
The BMI is purely a ratio of height and weight, and thus some people criticize it as being an inaccurate health assessment. This can be true if you are an athlete with large amounts of muscle mass but not body fat. To mitigate this problem, waist circumference is often considered when assessing overall health with the BMI.

Epidemiological studies show that waist size is correlated with the development of future health problems, leading to the claim that fat on the thighs and hips is relatively healthy.(2) The table below gives a rule of thumb guide to possible health risks as a function of both waist size and BMI.

Risk of Associated Disease According to BMI and Waist Size
BMI		Waist less than or equal to 40 in. (men) or 35 in. (women)	Waist greater than 40 in. (men) or 35 in. (women)
18.5 or less	Underweight	--	N/A
18.5 - 24.9	Normal	--	N/A
25.0 - 29.9	Overweight	Increased	High
30.0 - 34.9	Obese	High	Very High
35.0 - 39.9	Obese	Very High	Very High
40 or greater	Extremely Obese	Extremely High	Extremely High

Related

• The BMI Weight Loss Calculator
• High Calorie Foods with Tips for Weight Gain

Data Sources and References

1. Garabed Eknoyan (2008). "Adolphe Quetelet (1796-1874) - the average man and indices of obesity". In: Nephrol. Dial. Transplant. 23 (1): 47-51.