A BMI chart by height and weight helps you estimate your body mass index and identify your weight category. For adults aged 20 and older, the standard categories are underweight (below 18.5), healthy weight (18.5 to under 25), overweight (25 to under 30), and obesity (30 or above).

But BMI is a screening tool, not a diagnosis. It cannot distinguish muscle from fat or show where fat is stored. Your result makes more sense when considered alongside your waist measurement, medical history, and other health indicators.

TL;DR: Key Takeaways

  • Adult BMI categories use fixed cutoffs: 18.5, 25, and 30.

  • BMI cannot distinguish muscle from fat or measure abdominal fat directly.

  • For many people of Asian ancestry, additional risk thresholds of 23 and 27.5 may be useful.

  • A borderline result is not a diagnosis. Measurement accuracy and trends matter.

  • Children and teens need age- and sex-specific BMI percentiles, not the adult chart.

Want to discuss your weight or health concerns?  A $39 online urgent care visit with August AI connects you with a US-licensed clinician who can review your symptoms, medications, and health history and discuss appropriate next steps. Prescriptions depend on clinical judgment. An online visit cannot measure body composition or replace an in-person examination when one is needed.

BMI chart by height and weight for adults

Find your height in the left column, move across to your weight, and read the corresponding category. These approximate weight ranges use standard adult BMI cutoffs.

Height Underweight (BMI below 18.5) Healthy weight (18.5 to 24.9) Overweight (25 to 29.9) Obesity (BMI 30+)
4'10" Under 89 lb 89–119 lb 120–143 lb 144 lb+
4'11" Under 92 lb 92–123 lb 124–148 lb 149 lb+
5'0" Under 95 lb 95–128 lb 129–153 lb 154 lb+
5'1" Under 98 lb 98–132 lb 133–158 lb 159 lb+
5'2" Under 102 lb 102–136 lb 137–164 lb 165 lb+
5'3" Under 105 lb 105–141 lb 142–169 lb 170 lb+
5'4" Under 108 lb 108–145 lb 146–174 lb 175 lb+
5'5" Under 112 lb 112–150 lb 151–180 lb 181 lb+
5'6" Under 115 lb 115–154 lb 155–185 lb 186 lb+
5'7" Under 119 lb 119–159 lb 160–191 lb 192 lb+
5'8" Under 122 lb 122–164 lb 165–197 lb 198 lb+
5'9" Under 126 lb 126–169 lb 170–203 lb 204 lb+
5'10" Under 129 lb 129–174 lb 175–209 lb 210 lb+
5'11" Under 133 lb 133–179 lb 180–215 lb 216 lb+
6'0" Under 137 lb 137–184 lb 185–221 lb 222 lb+
6'1" Under 141 lb 141–189 lb 190–227 lb 228 lb+
6'2" Under 145 lb 145–194 lb 195–233 lb 234 lb+
6'3" Under 149 lb 149–200 lb 201–240 lb 241 lb+
6'4" Under 152 lb 152–205 lb 206–246 lb 247 lb+

These are approximate ranges; rounding can affect the boundary between categories. See the CDC adult BMI categories for the official classification.

For metric measurements, divide weight in kilograms by height in metres squared. For example, someone weighing 70 kg at 1.70 m has a BMI of approximately 24.2.

People also ask

No. The thresholds are fixed from age 20 onward, because they were drawn as population risk inflection points rather than age-adjusted norms. What does change with age is what the same number represents: muscle mass declines and fat redistributes toward the abdomen, so an unchanged BMI at 70 can mean a meaningfully different body than it did at 30.

No. Adults of both sexes read the same table, which surprises people, since women carry more essential body fat than men at an identical BMI. Sex-specific curves exist only for children and teens, where growth patterns diverge. The absence of a women's chart is not evidence that sex does not matter. It is a limitation of the tool.

What your BMI result can and cannot tell you

BMI is a screening measure, not a direct measurement of body fat. The CDC explains its limitations: BMI cannot distinguish fat from muscle or bone, and it does not show where fat is distributed.

That means two people with the same BMI can have very different health profiles. A muscular athlete may fall into the overweight category despite having relatively little body fat. An older adult may have a BMI in the healthy range but have lost muscle and gained abdominal fat over time.

If your result seems inconsistent with your health or build, consider additional measurements. Waist circumference can help assess abdominal fat, while a waist-to-height ratio provides another useful comparison. DEXA scans can estimate body composition when clinically appropriate, although they are not necessary for everyone. Fitness also matters; a VO2 max chart by age and gender can help you understand cardiorespiratory fitness.

People also ask

Yes. Plenty of people above 25 have normal blood pressure, lipids, fasting glucose and liver enzymes, and good cardiorespiratory fitness. BMI screens populations; those markers describe you. The reverse also holds, which matters more: a reading inside the healthy band does not clear you of metabolic problems, and it is a weak reason to skip bloodwork.

No. The formula assumes weight reflects relatively stable body composition, and pregnancy weight includes the fetus, placenta, amniotic fluid and expanded blood volume. Clinicians use your pre-pregnancy BMI as the starting point and then track gain against pregnancy-specific guidance. Plotting a current reading on a standard chart mid-pregnancy tells you nothing you can act on.

What is a healthy BMI?

For adults, a healthy BMI is generally 18.5 to below 25. This range comes from population-level associations between BMI and health risks. It is not a personal target weight or a guarantee of good health.

For example, at 5'7", the approximate healthy-weight range is 119 to 159 pounds. The chart cannot determine where an individual within that range will feel or function best.

Blood pressure, cholesterol, blood glucose, waist circumference, physical activity, and medical history help provide a more complete picture. A BMI within the healthy range does not rule out health problems, and a BMI above it does not establish a diagnosis.

People also ask

Sometimes, and more usefully, it answers a different question. BMI ranks your weight against your height; waist circumference estimates abdominal fat, which is the distribution detail BMI structurally cannot see. For a muscular adult or an older adult who has lost muscle, the waist measure is the more informative of the two. Most clinicians want both numbers, not one.

Not usually a single number you can apply yourself. Eligibility combines a BMI threshold with coexisting conditions, your medical history, contraindications and, in practice, your insurance policy's criteria. A chart category is an input to that decision, not the decision. A prescribing clinician reviews the whole picture, including labs and medications you already take, before anything is written.

Why BMI thresholds may differ for people of Asian ancestry

Research has found that some Asian populations experience increased risk of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease at lower BMI values than those reflected in standard international categories.

A 2004 WHO Expert Consultation identified additional public-health action points of 23 and 27.5 kg/m² for Asian populations. These can prompt earlier consideration of metabolic risk, although individual risk varies across populations.

If you have Asian ancestry and your BMI is 23 or higher, ask your clinician whether checking blood pressure, glucose, and cholesterol makes sense for you. These additional action points do not replace a full assessment.

People also ask

Yes. Below 18.5 flags underweight, which carries its own risks including nutrient deficiencies, reduced bone density, impaired immune function and menstrual irregularity. The reading matters less than the story behind it. Weight that has fallen without you intending it, or a falling trend alongside food restriction, needs evaluation promptly rather than another month of chart-watching.

Does a BMI of 24.8 versus 25.1 matter?

Usually, not by itself. Small differences can result from scale variation, hydration, clothing, or inaccurate height measurements.

For a more consistent reading:

  • Measure your height without shoes.

  • Use the same scale under similar conditions.

  • Weigh yourself at a consistent time when tracking trends.

  • Look at changes over several weeks or months rather than reacting to one result.

Record your BMI accurately instead of rounding it up or down to fit a preferred category. The trend and the broader health picture are generally more useful than a tiny difference around a cutoff.

Why children and teens need a different BMI chart

Adult BMI categories should not be used for children and teens aged 2 to 19. Their bodies are still growing, so clinicians use CDC age- and sex-specific BMI percentiles.

The standard categories are:

  • Underweight: Below the 5th percentile

  • Healthy weight: 5th percentile to below the 85th

  • Overweight: 85th to below the 95th

  • Obesity: 95th percentile or higher

CDC also provides extended BMI-for-age growth charts for children with very high BMI values. If you are checking a child's weight, use the pediatric calculator and discuss concerns with their healthcare professional rather than applying the adult chart.

What should you do with your BMI result?

Use your result as a starting point for a health conversation, not as a reason to panic or begin a restrictive diet.

Consider scheduling a clinical review if your BMI is below 18.5, falls into the obesity range, changes unexpectedly, or accompanies symptoms such as persistent fatigue or unexplained weight loss. Seek emergency care for severe symptoms such as chest pain, significant difficulty breathing, or fainting, regardless of your BMI.

Before starting a weight-loss medication, restrictive diet, or intensive exercise program, discuss your goals and medical history with a clinician. If you are researching medication options, our GLP-1 dose conversion chart offers background information, but medication selection and dosing require individualized clinical guidance.

For everyday prevention, focus on sustainable habits: regular movement, adequate sleep, balanced meals, and fiber-rich foods such as high-fiber fruits. These habits support health regardless of the number on your chart.

Conclusion

A BMI chart by height and weight is a convenient way to screen for potential weight-related health risks, but it cannot tell the whole story. Find your category, check whether additional thresholds may apply to you, and consider your waist measurement and overall health.

The most useful next step is not chasing a particular number. It is using the result to guide a conversation about your health, risk factors, and sustainable habits.

Frequently Asked Questions

No. Standard adult BMI cutoffs remain the same from age 20 onward. However, muscle loss and changes in fat distribution with age can make BMI less informative on its own.

No. The standard adult chart uses the same categories for both. Children and teens use sex- and age-specific percentiles because growth patterns differ.

Yes. BMI alone cannot establish whether someone is healthy. Blood pressure, cholesterol, glucose, waist circumference, fitness, and medical history provide important context.

A standard BMI calculation during pregnancy does not account for the fetus, placenta, fluid, and other normal changes. Clinicians generally use pre-pregnancy BMI alongside pregnancy-specific guidance to assess weight gain.

It measures something different. BMI compares weight with height, while waist circumference helps assess abdominal fat. Using both can provide more information than relying on either measurement alone.

Yes. A BMI below 18.5 can indicate underweight and may be associated with nutritional deficiencies, reduced bone density, or other concerns. Unintentional weight loss deserves medical evaluation even if your BMI remains within the standard range.