BMI Calculator
BMI Calculator
For adults age 20 and older. BMI is a screening measure and should be considered alongside other health information.
BMI Calculator
For adults age 20 and older. BMI is a screening measure and should be considered alongside other health information.
BMI Categories for Adults
| BMI | Weight Category |
|---|---|
| Below 18.5 | Underweight |
| 18.5 to less than 25 | Healthy Weight |
| 25 to less than 30 | Overweight |
| 30 to less than 35 | Obesity Class 1 |
| 35 to less than 40 | Obesity Class 2 |
| 40 or greater | Obesity Class 3 |
Limitations of BMI
BMI can be useful for identifying weight patterns across large populations, but it has important limitations when applied to individuals. The calculation is based only on height and weight, so it does not directly measure body fat or account for differences in muscle mass, bone density, or body composition.
BMI also does not indicate where fat is stored. Abdominal fat, for example, may be more closely associated with certain metabolic risks than body weight alone. Waist circumference can therefore provide additional information when assessing health risks.
Age, sex, ethnicity, muscle mass, and other individual characteristics can also affect how BMI relates to health. A person with a higher BMI may have a different health profile depending on their body composition and other risk factors.
For these reasons, BMI should be interpreted alongside other measures of health rather than used as a standalone assessment. Blood pressure, blood glucose, cholesterol levels, waist circumference, medical history, medications, physical activity, and other relevant factors can provide a more complete picture of an individual's health.
The BMI categories shown above are intended for adults age 20 and older. Children and teenagers are assessed using age- and sex-specific BMI percentiles, while BMI is not used in the same way to assess weight during pregnancy.
