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- BMI calculator
BMI calculator
Enter your height and weight to see your body mass index, what it means and the healthy weight range for your height.
- Healthy weight for your height
- 53.5 to 72 kg
BMI is a quick screening number, not a diagnosis. It can't tell muscle from fat and it isn't meant for children, pregnant women or very muscular people.
Want to change your weight? Find out how many calories you need a day.What BMI means
Body mass index is your weight in kilograms divided by your height in meters squared. The World Health Organization uses it to sort adults into four groups.
Under 18.5 is underweight. From 18.5 to 24.9 is a healthy weight. From 25 to 29.9 is overweight. 30 or more is obesity, split into class I (30 to 34.9), class II (35 to 39.9) and class III (40 or more).
How to calculate your BMI
Divide your weight by your height squared. For example, someone who weighs 70 kg and is 1.75 m tall has a BMI of 70 ÷ (1.75 × 1.75) = 22.9.
In pounds and inches, multiply by 703: BMI = 703 × weight in pounds ÷ (height in inches × height in inches).
What BMI doesn't tell you
BMI only uses height and weight, so it can't see where your weight comes from. A muscular athlete can have a BMI over 25 with little body fat, while an older adult with a normal BMI can carry too much fat and too little muscle.
Where fat sits matters too: fat around the waist is linked to higher health risk. Checking your waist alongside BMI gives a better picture.
For people of Asian descent, a WHO expert group found that health risks rise at lower BMI values and suggested extra action points at 23 and 27.5.
If your BMI is over 25
You don't need to reach a perfect number to feel the benefits. In a large study of adults with overweight and type 2 diabetes, losing 5 to 10% of body weight already improved blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol.
The most reliable way to lose weight is a moderate calorie deficit you can keep for months. Our calorie calculator shows your daily target, and BananaCal tracks it for you with a photo of each meal.
Frequently asked questions
What is a healthy BMI?
For adults, a BMI between 18.5 and 24.9 is considered a healthy weight. For people of Asian descent, health risks start to rise from about 23.
Is BMI accurate?
BMI is a useful screening tool for groups of people, but it doesn't measure body fat directly. It can overestimate fat in muscular people and underestimate it in older adults who have lost muscle.
What BMI counts as obesity?
A BMI of 30 or more counts as obesity: class I from 30 to 34.9, class II from 35 to 39.9 and class III from 40.
Is BMI different for women and men?
The formula and the categories are the same for adult women and men. For children and teenagers, BMI is compared with growth charts for age and sex, so this calculator is not suitable for them.
Sources
- World Health Organization: Obesity and overweight, fact sheet
- WHO Expert Consultation. Appropriate body-mass index for Asian populations and its implications for policy and intervention strategies. The Lancet, 2004
- Wing RR et al. Benefits of modest weight loss in improving cardiovascular risk factors in overweight and obese individuals with type 2 diabetes. Diabetes Care, 2011
- CDC: Adult BMI categories
This article is general information, not medical advice. If you have a health condition, are pregnant or take medication, talk to your doctor or a registered dietitian before changing your diet.