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BMI & Fair Weight Standards

Height and weight are used to calculate a person's body mass index (BMI), which is a measurement of body fat. The calculation is the same for either gender and regardless of age.

  1. Calculating Your BMI

    • BMI is calculated by taking your weight in kilograms and dividing it by the square of your height in meters. As an example, a person that is 5 feet 4 inches tall and has a weight of 140 pounds will have a BMI of 24.0. There are many BMI calculators online that will do the conversion for you.

    Weight Categories

    • Your BMI number will be able to give you a general idea of whether your weight is a healthy one. A BMI of more than 30 falls into the obese category and anything ranging from 25 to 29.9 would be classified as overweight. A BMI of 18.5 to 24.9 is a healthy weight and anything below 18.5 is considered underweight.

    Assessment

    • Your BMI is not the only tool you can use to assess if you're at a healthy weight. Measuring your waist size can be a good indicator of possible health risks that come with being overweight such as heart disease, Type 2 diabetes, and high blood pressure. A male should have a waist circumference of less than 40 inches and a female's should be less than 35 inches.

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