Question 1

How do I read a BMI chart?

Accepted Answer

A BMI chart displays weight ranges across different heights, color-coded by BMI category. Find your height on the left side of the chart, then move across to find your weight. The column will show which BMI category you fall into: underweight (below 18.5), normal (18.5–24.9), overweight (25.0–29.9), or obese (30.0+). Our chart shows weight ranges in both metric (kg) and imperial (lbs) for easy reference.

Question 2

What is a normal BMI for a woman?

Accepted Answer

A normal BMI for women is 18.5–24.9, the same range used for men. However, women naturally carry more body fat at the same BMI — a woman with a BMI of 24 typically has more body fat than a man with the same BMI. For women, waist circumference (below 35 inches / 88 cm) and body fat percentage (18–28%) are important complementary measures.

Question 3

What is a normal BMI for a man?

Accepted Answer

A normal BMI for men is 18.5–24.9, which is the same scale used for women. However, men naturally have more muscle mass and less body fat at the same BMI. A healthy body fat range for men is 10–20%. Men who are physically active or muscular may have a BMI in the overweight range while still having healthy body composition — in these cases, body fat percentage is a better indicator.

Question 4

What weight is considered obese for my height?

Accepted Answer

Obesity starts at a BMI of 30.0. For common heights: at 5'4" (163 cm), obesity begins at approximately 174 lbs (79 kg). At 5'7" (170 cm), it starts at about 191 lbs (87 kg). At 5'10" (178 cm), at about 209 lbs (95 kg). At 6'0" (183 cm), at about 221 lbs (100 kg). Use our BMI chart above to find the exact threshold for your specific height.

Question 5

Is BMI the same for all races and ethnicities?

Accepted Answer

The standard BMI categories were developed primarily from data on white European populations. Research shows that Asian populations tend to have higher body fat and greater health risks at lower BMI values, which is why the WHO recommends lower cutoffs for Asian adults: overweight at BMI 23 and obese at BMI 27.5. Some studies also suggest African Americans may have lower health risks at slightly higher BMIs due to differences in muscle mass and bone density.

Question 6

How much should a 5-foot-7 person weigh?

Accepted Answer

For someone who is 5'7" (170 cm), the healthy weight range (BMI 18.5–24.9) is approximately 121–159 lbs (55–72 kg). The ideal weight, based on the average of four scientific formulas, is approximately 140–155 lbs (64–70 kg) for men and 130–145 lbs (59–66 kg) for women. Your personal ideal depends on factors like muscle mass, body frame size, and age.

Question 7

What is considered morbidly obese?

Accepted Answer

Morbid obesity (now more commonly called Class III or severe obesity) is defined as a BMI of 40 or higher, or a BMI of 35+ with serious obesity-related health conditions. For a 5'9" person, this corresponds to approximately 270+ lbs (123+ kg). Morbid obesity significantly increases risk for heart disease, type 2 diabetes, sleep apnea, certain cancers, and reduced life expectancy. It may qualify for bariatric surgery consideration.

Question 8

Can children use the same BMI chart as adults?

Accepted Answer

No — children and teens (ages 2–19) should not use adult BMI charts. Instead, pediatric BMI uses age-and-sex-specific percentile charts from the CDC. A child's BMI is plotted on a growth chart to determine their percentile: below 5th is underweight, 5th–84th is healthy, 85th–94th is overweight, and 95th or above is obese. Children's body composition changes rapidly during growth, making adult categories inappropriate.

Question 9

Does BMI account for muscle mass?

Accepted Answer

No — BMI does not differentiate between muscle, fat, bone, or water weight. This is its primary limitation. A highly muscular person (e.g., an athlete or bodybuilder) can easily have a BMI over 25 (overweight category) while having very low body fat. For muscular individuals, body fat percentage, waist circumference, or a DEXA scan are more accurate health assessments than BMI alone.

Question 10

What is the most accurate way to determine healthy weight?

Accepted Answer

The most comprehensive approach combines multiple metrics: BMI for general screening, body fat percentage (via DEXA scan, hydrostatic weighing, or the US Navy method), waist circumference (under 40" for men, under 35" for women), waist-to-hip ratio, blood pressure, blood glucose, and cholesterol levels. No single metric tells the full story — a combination provides the most accurate picture of health risk.

Height	Underweight<18.5	Normal18.5–24.9	Overweight25–29.9	Obese30+
150 cm (4'11)	<42 kg	42–56 kg	56–67 kg	68+ kg
155 cm (5'1)	<44 kg	44–60 kg	60–72 kg	72+ kg
160 cm (5'3)	<47 kg	47–64 kg	64–77 kg	77+ kg
165 cm (5'5)	<50 kg	50–68 kg	68–81 kg	82+ kg
170 cm (5'7)	<53 kg	53–72 kg	72–86 kg	87+ kg
175 cm (5'9)	<57 kg	57–76 kg	77–92 kg	92+ kg
180 cm (5'11)	<60 kg	60–81 kg	81–97 kg	97+ kg
185 cm (6'1)	<63 kg	63–85 kg	86–102 kg	103+ kg
190 cm (6'3)	<67 kg	67–90 kg	90–108 kg	108+ kg
195 cm (6'5)	<70 kg	70–95 kg	95–114 kg	114+ kg
200 cm (6'7)	<74 kg	74–100 kg	100–120 kg	120+ kg

BMI Chart

How to Read the BMI Chart

BMI Categories Explained

Understanding BMI: What It Measures and Why It Matters

A Closer Look at Each BMI Category

Underweight (BMI Below 18.5)

Normal Weight (BMI 18.5–24.9)

Overweight (BMI 25–29.9)

Obese (BMI 30 and Above)

Limitations of BMI

Tips for Using the BMI Chart

Related Tools and Resources

BMI Chart FAQ