What is considered in the ideal BMI?
- A BMI of less than 18.5 means a person is underweight.
- A BMI of between 18.5 and 24.9 is ideal.
- A BMI of between 25 and 29.9 is overweight.
- A BMI over 30 indicates obesity.
What would you say is a dangerously low BMI?
For most people I'd say any BMI below 16 starts being so low that it raises immediate significant health risks. BMI 17 and above is in my opinion fine for longer term maintenance if your body isn't screaming at you to gain weight, but anything less than that would most likely be dangerous at least in the long run.
What does BMI really tell us?
Looking at BMI alone can be misleading when you consider that:
- Women tend to have more body fat than men.
- Older adults have more body fat than younger ones. ...
- At the same BMI, the metabolic risks for people of Asian descent are higher than for Caucasians.
Is a BMI considered overweight?
The BMI score is meant to be a quick way of determining whether a person has too much body fat. BMI scores of 20 to 24.9 are considered normal, scores of 25 to 29.9 are overweight, scores of 30 to 34.9 are obese, and scores above 35 are extremely obese. Scores under 20 are considered underweight.
What Are The BMI Trends For Adults in The United States?
The prevalence of adult BMI greater than or equal to 30 kg/m2 (obese status) has greatly increased since the 1970s. Recently, however, this trend h...
Why Is BMI Used to Measure Overweight and Obesity?
BMI can be used for population assessment of overweight and obesity. Because calculation requires only height and weight, it is inexpensive and eas...
What Are Some of The Other Ways to Assess Excess Body Fatness Besides BMI?
Other methods to measure body fatness include skinfold thickness measurements (with calipers), underwater weighing, bioelectrical impedance, dual-e...
How Is BMI Interpreted For Adults?
For adults 20 years old and older, BMI is interpreted using standard weight status categories. These categories are the same for men and women of a...
Is BMI Interpreted The Same Way For Children and Teens as It Is For Adults?
BMI is interpreted differently for children and teens, even though it is calculated using the same formula as adult BMI. Children and teen’s BMI ne...
How Good Is BMI as An Indicator of Body Fatness?
The correlation between the BMI and body fatness is fairly strong1,2,3,7, but even if 2 people have the same BMI, their level of body fatness may d...
If An Athlete Or Other Person With A Lot of Muscle Has A BMI Over 25, Is That Person Still Considered to Be Overweight?
According to the BMI weight status categories, anyone with a BMI between 25 and 29.9 would be classified as overweight and anyone with a BMI over 3...
What Are The Health Consequences of Obesity For Adults?
People who have obesity are at increased risk for many diseases and health conditions, including the following: 10, 17, 18 1. All-causes of death (...
What is the BMI of a person?
BMI is a reliable indicator of body fatness for most people. It is used to screen for weight categories that may lead to health problems. This calculator provides BMI and the corresponding weight category. Use this calculator for adults, 20 years old and older. Add this widget to your website.
What is a child's BMI?
Child and Teen BMI Calculator. Body Mass Index (BMI) is a person’s weight in kilograms divided by the square of height in meters. A high BMI can be an indicator of high body fatness. BMI can be used to screen for weight categories that may lead to health problems but it is not diagnostic of the body fatness or health of an individual.
BMI calculator
The default BMI of 16.6 shown on the tool is for a 5'5" person who weighs 100 lbs.
What are the limitations of BMI?
Although there is a link between BMI and body fat, there are some limitations to the tool that have been widely discussed in the medical community:
How can I lose additional weight?
Sustained long-term weight loss should be viewed as a lifetime commitment, and to be effective, one must make gradual permanent changes to their current lifestyle.
Why is it so hard to keep weight off?
Your brain and body are hard-wired to regain the weight that has been lost. This, combined with the abundance of high-calorie foods on the market today, makes regaining weight all too easy.
Top What Is a Normal BMI Range Related Articles
When you want to lose weight, you’ll probably need to find a way to eat fewer calories. Try these tips to trim them from your diet without feeling hungry all the time.
What is BMI in health?
Reduced risk for heart disease and certain cancers. BMI is an indicator of the amount of body fat for most people. It is used as a screening tool to identify whether an adult is at a healthy weight.
How to calculate BMI?
To calculate your exact BMI value, multiply your weight in pounds by 703, divide by your height in inches, then divide again by your height in inches.
What is the waist circumference?
Waist circumference is the distance around your natural waist (at the iliac crest – or hip bone). If your BMI is between 25-35 kg/m 2, your goal for waist circumference is less than 40 inches if you're a man and less than 35 inches if you're a woman.
What is the body mass index (BMI)?
BMI is an indicator of the amount of body fat for most people. It is used as a screening tool to identify whether an adult is at a healthy weight in kilograms is divided by height in meters squared (kg/m2). In studies by the National Center for Health Statistics,
What is the BMI of a person with diabetes?
Obesity is defined as a BMI of 30.0 kg/m² or greater. People with BMIs of 30 kg/m² or more are at higher risk of cardiovascular diseases. Extreme obesity is defined as a BMI of 40 kg/m² or greater.
What is extreme obesity?
Extreme obesity is defined as a BMI of 40 kg/m² or greater. Some well-trained people with dense muscle mass may have a high BMI score but very little body fat. For them, the waist circumference, the skinfold thickness or more direct methods of measuring body fat may be more useful measures than BMI.
Why is BMI important?
Reductions in blood triglycerides, blood glucose, and risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Reduced risk for heart disease and certain cancers. BMI is an indicator of the amount of body fat for most people. It is used as a screening tool to identify whether an adult is at a healthy weight.
What is the average BMI for a child?
Body mass index is interpreted a bit differently in children than in adults, as they're still growing and mature at different rates. Instead of having just one set range of healthy BMIs, it's necessary to check a BMI-for-age chart to check whether the BMI is between the 5th and 85th percentile for that age group. For boys and girls between 2 and 7 years old, the average BMI is somewhere between 16 and 17 as of 2010, depending on age and gender, but the range of what is healthy is broader than this. For example, a 5-year-old boy is considered healthy with a BMI from 13.8 and 17. The average BMI for an 8-year-old boy is 17.9, and girls of the same age have an average BMI of 18.3. By the age of 12, the average BMI for both girls and boys is 21.3, with a healthy range of about 15 to 21.8 for boys and 14.8 to 22.5 for girls.
What is the average BMI for a 13 year old?
The average BMI for a 13-year-old boy is 21.9; for a girl of the same age it's slightly higher, at 22.1, The healthy BMI range for 13-year-olds is 15.5 to 22.6 for boys ...
What does it mean when you have a large waist?
Having a large waistline is an indicator that you may have an excessive amount of a dangerous type of fat called visceral fat that surrounds the organs. The waist-to-hip ratio can be helpful to determine if you have this type of dangerous fat. Divide your waist circumference in inches by your hip circumference in inches.
Does BMI mean you are healthy?
Knowing the average BMI -- body mass index -- for your age group can help you determine how you compare to other people of the same age, but, even if you have an average BMI, it doesn't necessarily mean you're healthy.
Is BMI a predictor of body fat?
BMI isn't necessarily an accurate predictor of body fat, either. It often overestimates body fat in those who are very muscular, and underestimates it in the elderly. Advertisement. BMI also doesn't take into account where you carry your weight.
When should I use my BMI?
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends using BMI to screen for overweight and obesity in children beginning at 2 years old. For children under the age of 2 years old, consult the World Health Organization (WHO) standards. external icon. .
How to calculate BMI?
Calculating BMI using the BMI Percentile Calculator involves the following steps: 1 Measure height and weight. Refer to Measuring Children’s Height and Weight Accurately At Home for guidance. 2 Use the Child and Teen BMI Calculator to calculate BMI. The BMI number is calculated using standard formulas.
How is BMI calculated for children and teens?
Calculating BMI using the BMI Percentile Calculator involves the following steps:
What is a BMI percentile and how is it interpreted?
After BMI is calculated for children and teens, it is expressed as a percentile obtained from either a graph or a percentile calculator linked below. These percentiles express a child’s BMI relative to US children who participated in national surveys from 1963-65 to 1988-94 4. Weight and height change during growth and development, as does their relation to body fatness. Consequently, a child’s BMI must be interpreted relative to other children of the same sex and age.
Why can’t healthy weight ranges be provided for children and teens?
It is difficult to provide healthy weight ranges for children and teens because the interpretation of BMI depends on weight, height, age, and sex.
What are the BMI trends for children and teens in the United States?
The prevalence of children and teens who measure in the 95 th percentile or greater on the CDC growth charts has greatly increased over the past 40 years . Recently, however, this trend has leveled off and has even declined in certain age groups.
What are the health consequences of obesity during childhood?
Obesity during childhood can harm the body in a variety of ways, now and in the future. Learn more about the health consequences of obesity for children.
What does BMI mean?
Your BMI is , indicating your weight is in the category for adults of your height. For your height, a normal weight range would be from to pounds. People who are overweight or obese are at higher risk for chronic conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes, and high cholesterol.
Why is it important to maintain a healthy weight?
Maintaining a healthy weight may reduce the risk of chronic diseases associated with overweight and obesity. For information about the importance of a healthy diet and physical activity in maintaining a healthy weight, visit Preventing Weight Gain. For the information you entered:
Is BMI a reliable indicator of body fatness?
BMI provides a fairly reliable indicator of body fatness for most people and is used to screen for weight categories that may lead to health problems. Visit the CDC Web Site: More about BMI for Adults. Healthy Weight.
How to calculate BMI?
Calculate Your Body Mass Index 1 Enter your weight and height using standard or metric measures. 2 Select "Compute BMI" and your BMI will appear below.
Why is it important to maintain a healthy weight?
Maintaining a healthy weight is important for your heart health. Moving more can lower your risk factors for heart disease. Eating a healthy diet is the key to heart disease prevention. Tracking your heart health stats can help you meet your heart health goals.
What is the best BMI for an older person?
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.
How to calculate BMI for seniors?
How BMI Affects Seniors. BMI is calculated by dividing your weight in kilograms by your height in meters squared. There are plenty of online calculators and charts that can help you determine your BMI based on standard measures (inches, pounds) if you prefer.
How does BMI affect seniors?
How BMI Affects Seniors. Dangers of Low Weight. Health Risks. Weight Goals. BMI (body mass index) is a key indicator of overall health. Guidelines recommend that all adults maintain a BMI between 18 and 24.9; a BMI of 25 and over indicates overweight, while one over 30 indicates obesity. 1 . However, it is possible that a few extra pounds may not ...
Why is my BMI low?
Many conditions, such as cancer, gastrointestinal disease, and neurological disease, can cause problems that prevent older adults from getting enough nutrition, resulting in a low BMI, often for the first time in their lives. Being underweight increases the risk of developing serious health problems and decreases your chances ...
What are the health factors that are not made worse by a higher BMI?
Scientists discovered that health-related quality of life factors, such as social functioning, emotional health, and pain, are not made worse by a higher BMI in older adults. 7
What are the health problems associated with low body weight?
These include heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, gallbladder disease, osteoarthritis, stroke, and breathing disorders such as sleep apnea to name just a few. 3 But of equal concern is the impact of low body weight on an aging body and the management of chronic illnesses.
Is being underweight bad for you?
Being underweight increases the risk of developing serious health problems and decreases your chances of recovery from illnesses. For example, underweight stroke survivors fare worse than their overweight or average weight counterparts. 6 .
