What Bmi Is Considered Heavy, Normal Or Obese?

Body Mass Index, or BMI, can help you assess your weight for your height and whether your weight may jeopardize your health. If your weight for height ratio falls within the healthy range and your pattern of fat distribution indicates a low health risk, then you may not need to change your weight. If your BMI is outside of the healthy range, either too low or too high, you may want to consult with your health care professional. Weight classifications based on BMI are meant for adults only. BMI for children is calculated the same, but interpreted differently.

Identification

BMI = (weight in kilograms) divided by (height in meters squared). If you are not comfortable with metric measures, you can closely approximate your BMI with the formula, BMI = (weight in pounds / height in inches squared) x (705). Another way to determine your BMI is to use an online BMI calculator such as one provided by MayoClinic.com.

Underweight

Underweight means a BMI below 18.5. BMI values only slightly below this level may be compatible with good health if nutrient intake is adequate, but signs of illness, poor reproduction ability and reductions in work capacity become apparent with a BMI of 17. You need lean tissue to support health and fat to meet your body's needs. Underweight persons may benefit from weight gain to build up their energy reserve and to store a protective amount of nutrients

Normal Weight

Healthy weight is reflected by a BMI of 18.5 to 24.9. The lower end of this range represents a target for underweight persons to achieve. The upper limit represents a level for healthy persons to avoid exceeding and also a healthy target for overweight persons to work toward.

Overweight

Overweight is defined as a BMI of 25 to 29.9. Obesity-related diseases and increased mortality begin to surface with a BMI above 24.9. One consideration, though, is that BMI does not reflect body composition. It is possible for a body-builder to be categorized by the height-weight BMI standard as overweight even though he has a high percentage of lean muscle mass and is not overfat. In the United States, the average adult BMI is 26.5, according to Eleanor Whitney, Ph.D. and Sharon Rolfes, M.S., R.D., in "Understanding Nutrition."

Obese

An adult BMI greater than 30 represents obesity. Because of the increased mortality associated with a BMI greater than 40, this elevated level is sometimes referred to as morbidly obese. Even a modest weight loss can improve or prevent obesity-related health problems, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, and sleep apnea..

BMI for Children

BMI is age and gender specific for children and adolescents of age 2 to 20, and must be interpreted differently than for adults. The weight classifications do not apply to children because their growth pattern causes their BMI to fluctuate throughout their growing years. A healthy BMI for your child depends on gender and age in years and months. Plot your child's BMI on the BMI-for-age-and-gender growth charts provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. BMI that plots between the 10th percentile and the 85th percentile on the appropriate growth chart is described as normal. A BMI that falls below the 10th percentile is described as underweight and a BMI that plots above the 85th percentile represents overweight. A child's BMI that plots above the 95th percentile is described as obese.